Easy to read story involving the much used Guardian seduces his Ward theme. (I don't read the type often but I always enjoy it when written well).
Elizabeth Woolcot, (h/ward), is a very likeable leading lady. She isn't too happy about ending up as the ward of the notorious, convicted murderer, Nicholas Warring aka the Wicked Earl.
Likewise, when Nicholas' solicitor brings Elizabeth to his estate and presents Nicholas (H/guardian) with the news of his new responsibility, nobody is really happy about this turn affecting everyone's lives.
Nicholas accepts, eventually, after learning of circumstances in Elizabeth's life which has led to to this pass. He is determined being her guardian is not going to alter his decadent lifestyle and informs her of that fact. Since Elizabeth has no other alternative, she agrees and so the story begins.
It's a fun romp with the Wicked Earl continuing on with his drunken debauched partying and Elizabeth sneeking down the stairs to see what is going on. She and her aged Aunt are consigned to their part of the estate during these events by Nicholas, but Elizabeth isn't the type to reign in her curiosity so of course she gets caught time and again.
The attraction between the two builds, and Nicholas is quite the virile kinda guy. He is hiding his nature, but Elizabeth gets glimpses behind his facade which naturally intrigues her.
It's a light story that is written well. The only things that bothered me were the fatalistic attitude Nicholas holds as well as his irritating overblown sense of guilt. That guilt trip became so damn tedious and weakened his virile dominate alpha appeal spoiling how much more he could have been.
Time: 1803
Regency England