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Duchess Quartet #3
Una persecución salvaje
Beatriz Lennox no se detendrá ante nada ni nadie para conseguir su objetivo: el atractivo conde de Spade.
Se rumorea a espaldas de los seguidores de las viudas ricas londinenses y en los rincones de los salones más elegantes, que el escándalo persigue deliberadamente a la salvaje lady Beatriz Lennox allí adonde va. Tres años atrás, la debutante había causado sensación tras ser encontrada en una posición inconfundiblemente comprometida. Ahora, todo el mundo la ha etiquetado de «incasable», su familia la ha catalogado como una «cualquiera», y Beatriz no tiene ningún motivo ya para ir detrás de lo que ––y de quien–– desea. Y ella quiere a Stephen Fairfax-Lacy, el atractivo conde de Spade. Pero ella no podría ser más diferente de la mujer ideal del conde.
Se rumorea a espaldas de los seguidores de las viudas ricas londinenses y en los rincones de los salones más elegantes, que el escándalo persigue deliberadamente a la salvaje lady Beatriz Lennox allí adonde va. Tres años atrás, la debutante había causado sensación tras ser encontrada en una posición inconfundiblemente comprometida. Ahora, todo el mundo la ha etiquetado de «incasable», su familia la ha catalogado como una «cualquiera», y Beatriz no tiene ningún motivo ya para ir detrás de lo que ––y de quien–– desea. Y ella quiere a Stephen Fairfax-Lacy, el atractivo conde de Spade. Pero ella no podría ser más diferente de la mujer ideal del conde.
408 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 2004
414 people are currently reading
1712 people want to read
About the author
Eloisa James
123 books9,552 followersNew York Times bestselling author Eloisa James writes historical romances for HarperCollins Publishers. Her novels have been published to great acclaim. A reviewer from USA Today wrote of Eloisa's very first book that she "found herself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar"; later People Magazine raved that "romance writing does not get much better than this." Her novels have repeatedly received starred reviews from Publishers' Weekly and Library Journal and regularly appear on the best-seller lists.
After graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press. Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance, as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.
Eloisa...on her double life:
When I'm not writing novels, I'm a Shakespeare professor. It's rather like having two lives. The other day I bought a delicious pink suit to tape a television segment on romance; I'll never wear that suit to teach in, nor even to give a paper at the Shakespeare Association of America conference. It's like being Superman, with power suits for both lives. Yet the literature professor in me certainly plays into my romances. The Taming of the Duke (April 2006) has obvious Shakespearean resonances, as do many of my novels. I often weave early modern poetry into my work; the same novel might contain bits of Catullus, Shakespeare and anonymous bawdy ballads from the 16th century.
When I rip off my power suit, whether it's academic or romantic, underneath is the rather tired, chocolate-stained sweatshirt of a mom. Just as I use Shakespeare in my romances, I almost always employ my experiences as a mother. When I wrote about a miscarriage in Midnight Pleasures, I used my own fears of premature birth; when the little girl in Fool For Love threw up and threw up, I described my own daughter, who had that unsavory habit for well over her first year of life.
So I'm a writer, a professor, a mother - and a wife. My husband Alessandro is Italian, born in Florence. We spend the lazy summer months with his mother and sister in Italy. It always strikes me as a huge irony that as a romance writer I find myself married to a knight, a cavaliere, as you say in Italian.
One more thing...I'm a friend. I have girlfriends who are writers and girlfriends who are Shakespeare professors. And I have girlfriends who are romance readers. In fact, we have something of a community going on my website. Please stop by and join the conversation on my readers' pages.
After graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press. Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance, as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.
Eloisa...on her double life:
When I'm not writing novels, I'm a Shakespeare professor. It's rather like having two lives. The other day I bought a delicious pink suit to tape a television segment on romance; I'll never wear that suit to teach in, nor even to give a paper at the Shakespeare Association of America conference. It's like being Superman, with power suits for both lives. Yet the literature professor in me certainly plays into my romances. The Taming of the Duke (April 2006) has obvious Shakespearean resonances, as do many of my novels. I often weave early modern poetry into my work; the same novel might contain bits of Catullus, Shakespeare and anonymous bawdy ballads from the 16th century.
When I rip off my power suit, whether it's academic or romantic, underneath is the rather tired, chocolate-stained sweatshirt of a mom. Just as I use Shakespeare in my romances, I almost always employ my experiences as a mother. When I wrote about a miscarriage in Midnight Pleasures, I used my own fears of premature birth; when the little girl in Fool For Love threw up and threw up, I described my own daughter, who had that unsavory habit for well over her first year of life.
So I'm a writer, a professor, a mother - and a wife. My husband Alessandro is Italian, born in Florence. We spend the lazy summer months with his mother and sister in Italy. It always strikes me as a huge irony that as a romance writer I find myself married to a knight, a cavaliere, as you say in Italian.
One more thing...I'm a friend. I have girlfriends who are writers and girlfriends who are Shakespeare professors. And I have girlfriends who are romance readers. In fact, we have something of a community going on my website. Please stop by and join the conversation on my readers' pages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
May 27, 2025
Where to start? This was a BOTM selection, the third book in a series. I jumped in not knowing what I was getting into. READER ALERT: This is not a standalone.
Bea and Stephen’s enemies to lovers story featured in the blurb did not kick in until 20%. Even then, it played third fiddle to other characters not even hinted at in the description. Eight-and-a-half months pregnant, Esme, is in love with Sebastian. Their story began in book two. And, hold on, that’s not all. There was another storyline for another FMC, Helene, who was stuck in a bad marriage. If The Pre-Newlywed Game wasn’t enough, there were four older, strongly opinionated women inserting their two pence into the proceedings. Last but not least, there was a garment loving goat.
James is hit or miss for me. I like her humor, but had forgotten how contemporary her characters behave or rather, misbehave. This is a Regentasy. My suspension of disbelief was bruised to the point where I had to apply pints and pints of ice cream. With a spoon. To my mouth.
Full disclosure: At 40% I started to skim. I would have DNFd if I wasn’t curious about Helene’s dilemma.
The last 10% earned a second star because the story wound down in a cute way.
Bea and Stephen’s enemies to lovers story featured in the blurb did not kick in until 20%. Even then, it played third fiddle to other characters not even hinted at in the description. Eight-and-a-half months pregnant, Esme, is in love with Sebastian. Their story began in book two. And, hold on, that’s not all. There was another storyline for another FMC, Helene, who was stuck in a bad marriage. If The Pre-Newlywed Game wasn’t enough, there were four older, strongly opinionated women inserting their two pence into the proceedings. Last but not least, there was a garment loving goat.
James is hit or miss for me. I like her humor, but had forgotten how contemporary her characters behave or rather, misbehave. This is a Regentasy. My suspension of disbelief was bruised to the point where I had to apply pints and pints of ice cream. With a spoon. To my mouth.
Full disclosure: At 40% I started to skim. I would have DNFd if I wasn’t curious about Helene’s dilemma.
The last 10% earned a second star because the story wound down in a cute way.
January 27, 2016
"The romance between Beatrix Lennox and Stephen Fairfax-Lacey was, to me, the least compelling of the plot strands in this novel. That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it, just that I found the continuing story of Esme and Bonnington, and the dysfunctional relationship between Helene and Rees more interesting.
Once again James juggles a large cast of characters very well. A house party setting can seem a bit claustrophobic but after having read romances where the characters seem constantly to be travelling from one place to another, this was a refreshing change. It allowed James to focus more on the relationships and emotions of her characters.
Aside from the romance, I really enjoyed the strong female friendships. The love and loyalty between Esme, Helene, Bea and Arabella was a delight to read and contributed a lot to my enjoyment of the novel.
Again, not my absolute favourite of James' novels, but a very enjoyable read."
Once again James juggles a large cast of characters very well. A house party setting can seem a bit claustrophobic but after having read romances where the characters seem constantly to be travelling from one place to another, this was a refreshing change. It allowed James to focus more on the relationships and emotions of her characters.
Aside from the romance, I really enjoyed the strong female friendships. The love and loyalty between Esme, Helene, Bea and Arabella was a delight to read and contributed a lot to my enjoyment of the novel.
Again, not my absolute favourite of James' novels, but a very enjoyable read."
July 3, 2024
Tied up some loose ends but not my favorite of the series. But props for weaving Shakespeare and a few other poets into the storyline... a nice surprise.
And I might admit to swooning over the idea of a gentleman masquerading as a common gardener... my fave story thread of the novel.
(Reviewed 4/15/17)
And I might admit to swooning over the idea of a gentleman masquerading as a common gardener... my fave story thread of the novel.
(Reviewed 4/15/17)
May 9, 2022
2 Estrellitas. Me apena mucho tener que darle ésta nota, pero no me ha gustado el libro. Esperaba otra cosa y no han sido más que los líos de faldas de tres amigas, pasándose los hombres las unas a las otras como si fuesen un porro. Lo siento, pero no me ha funcionado.
El título le hace mucho más honor de lo que pensaba. De nuevo tenemos a la condesa de Rawlings, viuda y embarazadísima, dando una fiesta en su casa de campo, donde ha invitado a Helene, la condesa Godwin, su tía Arabella y la dama de compañía de ésta, la infame Beatriz Lennox. Supuestamente la protagonista es Beatriz, pero siendo sincera, aquí tenemos tres historias paralelas, en las que Eloisa James ha dedicado un 33% de la novela a cada una de ellas. Y para divertimento de todas, Esme invita a Stephen Fairfax-Lacy, un veterano y destacado parlamentario, que será el objeto de persecución de las tres, cada una a su manera.
Si hemos leído los dos libros anteriores, sabemos que Esme, Lady Rawlings quedó embarazada en extrañas circunstancias y sin saber quién es el padre de su hijo, si su difunto marido o Sebastian, marqués de Bonnington, que estuvo prometido con Gina. Por otro lado, está Helene, condesa de Godwin, decidida a divorciarse de su réprobo esposo, Rees, y para ello Stephen será necesario. Finalmente, tenemos a la que debía ser la protagonista, y desconocida en anteriores libros, Beatriz Lennox. Beatriz es hija de un noble y fue educada para brillar, pero por desgracia, Beatriz salió demasiado hermosa y coqueta para su bien y en su primera temporada cayó en desgracia; por lo que fue apartada de la buena sociedad y ahora es la dama de compañía de Lady Arabella.
Por su parte, Stephen es un dechado de virtudes, tanto es así, que las tres amigas le llaman "el puritano". Stephen ha llevado una vida intachable, se ha dedicado con esmero a sus labores en el parlamento y nunca ha dado que hablar o ha sido presa del escándalo. Pero sí es cierto que Stephen está algo cansado de la vida pública que lleva y desea establecerse en su finca. No sabe por qué ha aceptado la invitación de la escandalosa Lady Rawlings, pero está dispuesto a disfrutar de sus días en el campo.
Este mejunje es lo que nos presenta Eloisa James, pero desgraciadamente ha quedado en nada. Se me ha hecho pesado, inverosímil, superficial y sin nada destacable. Beatriz es una protagonista descarada y maleducada que no me gusta encontrar en las novelas, ni los motivos de las tres por aprovecharse de una persona tan buena como Stephen. Y como colofón, no entiendo en qué momento se enamoran los protagonistas, porque no he visto romance por ningún lado.
Si le doy las dos estrellas es porque Eloisa James parece que ha sabido darle el final que merecían a Esme y Sebastian tras dos libros contando su historia. La de los protagonistas no me ha gustado, no la he entendido. Pero llegados a este punto, si acabo la serie y leo el último es por saber qué pasa finalmente con Helene y Rees y si se reconciliarán.
El título le hace mucho más honor de lo que pensaba. De nuevo tenemos a la condesa de Rawlings, viuda y embarazadísima, dando una fiesta en su casa de campo, donde ha invitado a Helene, la condesa Godwin, su tía Arabella y la dama de compañía de ésta, la infame Beatriz Lennox. Supuestamente la protagonista es Beatriz, pero siendo sincera, aquí tenemos tres historias paralelas, en las que Eloisa James ha dedicado un 33% de la novela a cada una de ellas. Y para divertimento de todas, Esme invita a Stephen Fairfax-Lacy, un veterano y destacado parlamentario, que será el objeto de persecución de las tres, cada una a su manera.
Si hemos leído los dos libros anteriores, sabemos que Esme, Lady Rawlings quedó embarazada en extrañas circunstancias y sin saber quién es el padre de su hijo, si su difunto marido o Sebastian, marqués de Bonnington, que estuvo prometido con Gina. Por otro lado, está Helene, condesa de Godwin, decidida a divorciarse de su réprobo esposo, Rees, y para ello Stephen será necesario. Finalmente, tenemos a la que debía ser la protagonista, y desconocida en anteriores libros, Beatriz Lennox. Beatriz es hija de un noble y fue educada para brillar, pero por desgracia, Beatriz salió demasiado hermosa y coqueta para su bien y en su primera temporada cayó en desgracia; por lo que fue apartada de la buena sociedad y ahora es la dama de compañía de Lady Arabella.
Por su parte, Stephen es un dechado de virtudes, tanto es así, que las tres amigas le llaman "el puritano". Stephen ha llevado una vida intachable, se ha dedicado con esmero a sus labores en el parlamento y nunca ha dado que hablar o ha sido presa del escándalo. Pero sí es cierto que Stephen está algo cansado de la vida pública que lleva y desea establecerse en su finca. No sabe por qué ha aceptado la invitación de la escandalosa Lady Rawlings, pero está dispuesto a disfrutar de sus días en el campo.
Este mejunje es lo que nos presenta Eloisa James, pero desgraciadamente ha quedado en nada. Se me ha hecho pesado, inverosímil, superficial y sin nada destacable. Beatriz es una protagonista descarada y maleducada que no me gusta encontrar en las novelas, ni los motivos de las tres por aprovecharse de una persona tan buena como Stephen. Y como colofón, no entiendo en qué momento se enamoran los protagonistas, porque no he visto romance por ningún lado.
Si le doy las dos estrellas es porque Eloisa James parece que ha sabido darle el final que merecían a Esme y Sebastian tras dos libros contando su historia. La de los protagonistas no me ha gustado, no la he entendido. Pero llegados a este punto, si acabo la serie y leo el último es por saber qué pasa finalmente con Helene y Rees y si se reconciliarán.
November 10, 2015
Esme Rawlings, the even more heavily pregnant and recently widowed duchess is holding another house party. Problem is, the Marquess of Bonnington is slumming it up pretending to be one of her gardeners. He’s got quite good at it and gained some muscle since the last book when she was in the early days of her pregnancy. The baby is due any day now and Sebastian is still hoping that the baby is his, not her dead husband’s. It’s a tricky situation; he grappled with the husband Miles, in Esme’s bedchamber and he dropped dead. It could have happened at any time, but society says Bonnington is responsible. Can he marry Esme when he caused her husband’s death?
Esme is holding bible reading sewing circle meetings of the local god fearing ladies to try and restore her reputation.
Her Aunt Arabella has shown up and brought her other friends as well. They all have different agendas.
Helene is desperately trying to attract the attention of her estranged husband, Rees and decides she should have a public affair to make him jealous; Lady Beatrix Lennox wants to have a fling with someone (anyone at all almost), and Esme is determined that she should announce her engagement to someone so that Sebastian gets the message and leaves her alone. They all pick the same man. Stephen Fairfax-Lacy, the handsome Earl of Spade and Member of the house of Commons. (unusual - he should be in the house of Lords.) He’s feeling pretty jaded and thought a trip to the country might perk him up.
It does that when he juggles his faux fiance, faux mistress and tries to convince Bea to seduce him, instead of the other way around.
Rees arrives when Helene writes to tell him she’s dying, Bonnington comes back to stay (now not in disguise), Bonnington’s socially terrifying mother arrives and insists on staying in the house as well to determine the baby is not his when it arrives. Plus, Esme’s hideous mother shows up after the birth and berates her for breastfeeding her new baby and for even showing it to her when she is still upset over the loss of Esme’s brother.
But Esme is among friends, and some of them are unexpected.
And Sloper, her butler seems to have it all under control. Except for the goat who eats hats. Nobody can control him.
3 complex house party stars
Esme is holding bible reading sewing circle meetings of the local god fearing ladies to try and restore her reputation.
Her Aunt Arabella has shown up and brought her other friends as well. They all have different agendas.
Helene is desperately trying to attract the attention of her estranged husband, Rees and decides she should have a public affair to make him jealous; Lady Beatrix Lennox wants to have a fling with someone (anyone at all almost), and Esme is determined that she should announce her engagement to someone so that Sebastian gets the message and leaves her alone. They all pick the same man. Stephen Fairfax-Lacy, the handsome Earl of Spade and Member of the house of Commons. (unusual - he should be in the house of Lords.) He’s feeling pretty jaded and thought a trip to the country might perk him up.
It does that when he juggles his faux fiance, faux mistress and tries to convince Bea to seduce him, instead of the other way around.
Rees arrives when Helene writes to tell him she’s dying, Bonnington comes back to stay (now not in disguise), Bonnington’s socially terrifying mother arrives and insists on staying in the house as well to determine the baby is not his when it arrives. Plus, Esme’s hideous mother shows up after the birth and berates her for breastfeeding her new baby and for even showing it to her when she is still upset over the loss of Esme’s brother.
But Esme is among friends, and some of them are unexpected.
And Sloper, her butler seems to have it all under control. Except for the goat who eats hats. Nobody can control him.
3 complex house party stars
March 7, 2022
3.5 stars Beatrix and Stephen, Esme and Sebastian, and Helene and Ress. This is a soap opera kind of story versus a romantic story. It is entertaining. However, to get the most out of it one must read books 1 and 2 of this series.
Esme is the kind of woman who always has to have all the guys attention at all times even her best friends guys. For example, she declares herself engaged to Stephen knowing that Helene was going to try and make her husband jealous enough for a divorce by having Stephen flirt with her. Instead-Stephen is suddenly engaged to Esme and Stephen lets her get away with it because he wants to make Beatrix jealous.
Beatrix and Stephen best moments were with a goat. Their story was not romantic because he was willing to have sex with Helene even after meeting Beatrix, flirted with both Helen and Esme while expecting Beatrix to woo him. He is an older guy who acted much younger. Especially using other women to try and get Beatrix's attention.
Sebastian is the saving grace in this story. He is a romantic lover to a very pregnant Esme, cares tenderly for the child inside her even though it may or may not his biological baby, and does not care that Esme flirts with all the men around her. I liked that they finally married and the scene with him and William when he discovers William is his bio son.
Beatrix and Stephen hea was charming. He finally bought a clue and decided he should have been wooing her properly.
Helene and Rees story is just so sad. Married young-separated now for 9 or 10 years. Rees flaunting his opera mistress that has much better curves than Helene. He will not let her obtain a divorce from him. She wants a child of her own especially now that two of her friends have little ones. So there is much to be resolved in book 4 between Helene and Rees.
Esme is the kind of woman who always has to have all the guys attention at all times even her best friends guys. For example, she declares herself engaged to Stephen knowing that Helene was going to try and make her husband jealous enough for a divorce by having Stephen flirt with her. Instead-Stephen is suddenly engaged to Esme and Stephen lets her get away with it because he wants to make Beatrix jealous.
Beatrix and Stephen best moments were with a goat. Their story was not romantic because he was willing to have sex with Helene even after meeting Beatrix, flirted with both Helen and Esme while expecting Beatrix to woo him. He is an older guy who acted much younger. Especially using other women to try and get Beatrix's attention.
Sebastian is the saving grace in this story. He is a romantic lover to a very pregnant Esme, cares tenderly for the child inside her even though it may or may not his biological baby, and does not care that Esme flirts with all the men around her. I liked that they finally married and the scene with him and William when he discovers William is his bio son.
Beatrix and Stephen hea was charming. He finally bought a clue and decided he should have been wooing her properly.
Helene and Rees story is just so sad. Married young-separated now for 9 or 10 years. Rees flaunting his opera mistress that has much better curves than Helene. He will not let her obtain a divorce from him. She wants a child of her own especially now that two of her friends have little ones. So there is much to be resolved in book 4 between Helene and Rees.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2022
This book was an Eloisa James fail for me. I don’t mind books where nothing really happens at a house party, but good lord this book was tedious. Helene and Stephen, Bea and Stephen, Esme and Stephen. Stop the madness.
October 27, 2025
I was really enjoying the story between Bea and Stephen. Their age difference didn’t bother me, quite the opposite. Stephen’s attraction to Bea truly takes him by surprise and under her gaze he finds himself become desirable sexual man.
Longing spread through him, coursed down his legs and made him tremble from head to foot. Dimly, he wondered what in the hell was happening to him. Why would this woman—this small, impudent, less-than-chaste woman—drive him into a fever of lust?
Or this
He leaned back against the billiard table and looked at her. He had never, ever, felt as if his body were so valuable. Deliberately he spread his legs and watched her glance catch for a second and then fly away. “Did you never see a man whom you wanted rather desperately?”
This man of ideas and arguments, this politician is coming down from the clouds and becomes aware of his body and its effect on others. While Bea has almost an opposite arc, from sultry body projection she is coming into her true self.
This part has played out quite nicely, but their wooing vs seducing got a little confusing.
Also Sebastian deserves a medal for dealing with Esme. I really didn’t like her in this book.
The game of everyone pretending to be into Stephen was little overdone.
We get the glimpse into story of Rees and Helene for which I am not excited for but this series has been great so I will give it a go.
On a side note: even though this series is all about relationships and love, there are not many explicit sex scenes, they are mostly closed door.
Longing spread through him, coursed down his legs and made him tremble from head to foot. Dimly, he wondered what in the hell was happening to him. Why would this woman—this small, impudent, less-than-chaste woman—drive him into a fever of lust?
Or this
He leaned back against the billiard table and looked at her. He had never, ever, felt as if his body were so valuable. Deliberately he spread his legs and watched her glance catch for a second and then fly away. “Did you never see a man whom you wanted rather desperately?”
This man of ideas and arguments, this politician is coming down from the clouds and becomes aware of his body and its effect on others. While Bea has almost an opposite arc, from sultry body projection she is coming into her true self.
This part has played out quite nicely, but their wooing vs seducing got a little confusing.
Also Sebastian deserves a medal for dealing with Esme. I really didn’t like her in this book.
The game of everyone pretending to be into Stephen was little overdone.
We get the glimpse into story of Rees and Helene for which I am not excited for but this series has been great so I will give it a go.
On a side note: even though this series is all about relationships and love, there are not many explicit sex scenes, they are mostly closed door.
March 12, 2020
I have given this story a 4 star, more for Esme and Sebastian's story. Which I have followed from book 1&2. Bea and Stephen, was a bit hit and miss for me.
February 20, 2015
So, this isn't really historical romance. It's historical chick lt. Which is pretty awesome! The romance in the blurb--Bea/Stephen--didn't feel like that large a part of the plot. Which I suppose is a flaw--I didn't think there was enough there for them to fall in loooove--but I enjoyed the book too much overall for that to bother me.
The friendships are great and there are cool self-realizations for the wonderful female characters and lots of fun schemes and plots, mostly centered around poor Stephen pretending on being in a relationship with someone!
And it left me really excited for the last book. I am liking this series a lot.
The friendships are great and there are cool self-realizations for the wonderful female characters and lots of fun schemes and plots, mostly centered around poor Stephen pretending on being in a relationship with someone!
And it left me really excited for the last book. I am liking this series a lot.
August 12, 2018
Another sweet and endearing bodice ripper to get me through the week. I, once again, loved all the characters and how their different stories seemed to flow together so effortlessly.
The one thing I could possibly fault with A Wild Pursuit would be the endless cat and mouse that seemed to constantly flip on its head. One moment one woman is chasing a man, the next she is chasing another and the first man wants her. I got a bit dizzy by the end.
Other than that, it was another perfect read from Eloisa James!
The one thing I could possibly fault with A Wild Pursuit would be the endless cat and mouse that seemed to constantly flip on its head. One moment one woman is chasing a man, the next she is chasing another and the first man wants her. I got a bit dizzy by the end.
Other than that, it was another perfect read from Eloisa James!
December 10, 2011
This book was very satisfying for me, primarily because of Sebastian and Esme. I wondered how the author would get round all the sticky parts of their relationship and be able to allow them a measure of true happiness without too much of a sting from the "ton". Bravo! Some of the original book's comedy of errors and role-playing.
And Stephen Fairfax-Lacy must be overjoyed by being the center of attention for 3 women at once! He's supposedly having an affair with Helene (Lady Godwin) while engaged to Esme and chasing Lady Beatrix! But we all know that his heart if following his body straight to Lady B. It's a saucy Benedick-Beatrice combo from "Much Ado About Nothing", but with a twist: Beatrice (Lady B) is supposedly a debauched and "experienced" young woman who is unmarriagable, but knows just how to seduce a man with her dress, her makeup, and her come-hither eyes. Benedick (Stephen) is tired of his life, which up til now has been his seat in Parliament. While she sees him as a Puritan, he sees her as the Devil - what a perfect match!
And mothers make a showing here, too: Esme's mother who's way too prim and proper for her own good, and Sebastian's mother who only seems to be as rigid as her cane.
Esme finally has her baby - a boy, William, who she can't love enough. Everyone is convinced William is so very like his Papa, Miles. But make sure to read the Epilogues, where a certain birth mark comes into play.
Helene's estranged and wandering husband Rees also makes an appearance, as Helene attempts to make Rees jealous by throwing her "affair" with Stephen in Rees' face. Rees remarks that he wishes for what his friend Cam and his wife Gina have; Helene wants a child, but how will she ever have a child if Rees won't even touch her?
At the end of this book, Helene is determined to get a child however she has to, even if it means scandal. She's almost torn apart watching Esme with William, and Gina's called Helene to stay with her for her (Gina's) last part of her pregnancy. Helene is surrounded by mothers and children, while her own arms and heart ache. From the description of the last book in this series, "Your Wicked Ways", it appears as if Helene and Rees figure dominantly. Will Helene get her child? Will she and Rees reconcile or finally just call it quits and go their separate ways? If divorce is out of the question (it takes an act of Parliament), will Helene find the lover she wants and needs to not only give her a child but to fill her heart and soul, too? Let's find out!
And Stephen Fairfax-Lacy must be overjoyed by being the center of attention for 3 women at once! He's supposedly having an affair with Helene (Lady Godwin) while engaged to Esme and chasing Lady Beatrix! But we all know that his heart if following his body straight to Lady B. It's a saucy Benedick-Beatrice combo from "Much Ado About Nothing", but with a twist: Beatrice (Lady B) is supposedly a debauched and "experienced" young woman who is unmarriagable, but knows just how to seduce a man with her dress, her makeup, and her come-hither eyes. Benedick (Stephen) is tired of his life, which up til now has been his seat in Parliament. While she sees him as a Puritan, he sees her as the Devil - what a perfect match!
And mothers make a showing here, too: Esme's mother who's way too prim and proper for her own good, and Sebastian's mother who only seems to be as rigid as her cane.
Esme finally has her baby - a boy, William, who she can't love enough. Everyone is convinced William is so very like his Papa, Miles. But make sure to read the Epilogues, where a certain birth mark comes into play.
Helene's estranged and wandering husband Rees also makes an appearance, as Helene attempts to make Rees jealous by throwing her "affair" with Stephen in Rees' face. Rees remarks that he wishes for what his friend Cam and his wife Gina have; Helene wants a child, but how will she ever have a child if Rees won't even touch her?
At the end of this book, Helene is determined to get a child however she has to, even if it means scandal. She's almost torn apart watching Esme with William, and Gina's called Helene to stay with her for her (Gina's) last part of her pregnancy. Helene is surrounded by mothers and children, while her own arms and heart ache. From the description of the last book in this series, "Your Wicked Ways", it appears as if Helene and Rees figure dominantly. Will Helene get her child? Will she and Rees reconcile or finally just call it quits and go their separate ways? If divorce is out of the question (it takes an act of Parliament), will Helene find the lover she wants and needs to not only give her a child but to fill her heart and soul, too? Let's find out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2025
This book was too much drama. It focused on two relationships and did neither justice. Esme, who we have learned to love in the first two books, is weak, childlike and impossible to like. Bea has an interesting backstory that’s never fully discussed. Of course there’s a happy ending for both couples, but it’s rather forced. Two separate books were needed for this undertaking!
June 14, 2013
Glad this was a library read, narrated by Justine Eyre. So slow, so lacking in gumption that the only reason why I continued was because I had already invested to much time into it and only my ears were involved. The Narration was actually quite good, but a good narrator can only take material so far.
This plot really had some decent opportunities that is squandered, if EJ ever considered a rewrite, which I know some authors have done for earlier works. I'd recommend a bit more scandal (just tighten the pacing would help, three women with questionable morals should have been a good start), a bit more backbone and there were some great opportunities to laugh a bit that died on the vine, so improving those would be advisable.
2 is actually a bit higher than it deserves, but a 1 would be a book I couldn't possibly finish. So there you go.
True Rating:
1.5 for the story
4 for narration, I recommend the narrator not the story.
Too bad, I have enjoyed some of EJ's novels but this really didn't hit the mark for me.
This plot really had some decent opportunities that is squandered, if EJ ever considered a rewrite, which I know some authors have done for earlier works. I'd recommend a bit more scandal (just tighten the pacing would help, three women with questionable morals should have been a good start), a bit more backbone and there were some great opportunities to laugh a bit that died on the vine, so improving those would be advisable.
2 is actually a bit higher than it deserves, but a 1 would be a book I couldn't possibly finish. So there you go.
True Rating:
1.5 for the story
4 for narration, I recommend the narrator not the story.
Too bad, I have enjoyed some of EJ's novels but this really didn't hit the mark for me.
August 8, 2009
I read this out of order. I wish Amazon would have series lists so I don't have to spend 15 minutes figuring out order and then blindly getting whatever. Suffice it to say this book is YUMMALICIOUS! I love loved it, I liked the characters, lots of plots going on and besides a slightly weak ending it was very enjoyable. Will be reading the other 3 around these characters ASAP!
October 28, 2023
This was a well written HR RomCom with three different stories of three different couples at one house party. The MC's or couples are: Lady Esme Rawlings (9 months pregnant) a widow of 8 months, Sebastian Bonnington, a Marquess (lover and possibly father of Esme's babe); Lady Beatrix Lennox, 23 and scandalous daughter of a Duke, Stephen Fairfax-Lacy a 42 yr old polititian ( on the hunt for a mistress), Earl of Godwin, Rees estranged husband of Lady Helene Godwin ( both composers and musicians, eloped at 19 but have lived apart for 9 yrs).
The setting: Lady Esme's home in Wiltshire, a houseparty during her confinement.
Lady Arabella Esme's aunt invited some people to Esme's home during her confinement to encourage her niece into a second marriage. She brought her adopted protoge, Beatrix with her who was ruined and disgraced forced to leave her father the Duke's household. She invited a man friend in of good name in the hopes that Esme would find her second husband, a bachelor and a polititian Stephen Fairfax-Lacy 42. Helene Godwin, Esme's bestfriend was already visiting in residence. The gardener, Sebastian Bonnington her lover and the cause of her husband Miles's sudden heart attack and subsequent death was secretly visiting Esme in the evenings. No one except the Butler Spokes is aware of what is going on. Stephen is bored with politics and wants a mistress. With the three women available he chooses Lady Helene. He knows her husband is living with his mistress and she has been abandoned and she would make a wonderful mistress with no complications. They talk about politics and he plays the pianoforte. She plays also. They share music together. With Esme and Bea's encouragement she reads a love poem to him suggesting a liason. He shows up to her room but she can't go through with it. They part remaining friends. He agrees to make her husband jeolous. She wants a divorce but he won't give it to her. She sends her husband a note saying she has pleurisy. He rushes there thinking she is on her death bed but finds she is having a supposed liason with Stephen Fairfax- Lacy. She tells him she wants a divorce. Stephen won't be the one to help with the proof as he is a polititian and it would ruin his career. Bea is secretly admired by Stephen and she dresses and flirts with him after Helene doesn't appear interested any longer. He follows her to a farm field for a walk and they see a goat. Bea leans over the fence to look at the goat and it grabs onto the sleeve of her pelise and she asks Stephen for help. He hops over the fence and falls in the mud but the goat won't give it up. She opens the gate and yells at the goat and he finally lets it go but in the meantime it gets her favorite bonnet and eats it. They both laugh a lot. He kisses her and she likes it. He asks her to woo him. Meanwhile Esme's secret lover's mother comes to visit as her son went home to tell his mother he was going to marry Esme. She would not want her son married to Infamous Esme who had many affairs prior to her son who caused Miles to have a heart attack and die. He knows his mother will go to Esme's house to try and stop a marriage. He arrives while his mother is there making it look like he is escorting his mother. Esme in desparation not wanting to marry Sebastian because of the scandal and she promised Miles she would become respectable if they had a child, she announces she is engaged to Stephen Fairfax Lacy. Now Stephen is wearing three hats to three different ladies, Esme's fiance, Helene's lover, and Bea's seducer and possible beau. Bea likes both Esme and Helene and won't rock the boat until Stephen is free.
In the end, Helene's husband leaves and the story continues in the next book.
Esme proposes to Sebastian using verses from the Song of Solomon. William (the baby) is Sebastian's after all.
Bea proposes to Stephen using Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the balcony scene.
The setting: Lady Esme's home in Wiltshire, a houseparty during her confinement.
Lady Arabella Esme's aunt invited some people to Esme's home during her confinement to encourage her niece into a second marriage. She brought her adopted protoge, Beatrix with her who was ruined and disgraced forced to leave her father the Duke's household. She invited a man friend in of good name in the hopes that Esme would find her second husband, a bachelor and a polititian Stephen Fairfax-Lacy 42. Helene Godwin, Esme's bestfriend was already visiting in residence. The gardener, Sebastian Bonnington her lover and the cause of her husband Miles's sudden heart attack and subsequent death was secretly visiting Esme in the evenings. No one except the Butler Spokes is aware of what is going on. Stephen is bored with politics and wants a mistress. With the three women available he chooses Lady Helene. He knows her husband is living with his mistress and she has been abandoned and she would make a wonderful mistress with no complications. They talk about politics and he plays the pianoforte. She plays also. They share music together. With Esme and Bea's encouragement she reads a love poem to him suggesting a liason. He shows up to her room but she can't go through with it. They part remaining friends. He agrees to make her husband jeolous. She wants a divorce but he won't give it to her. She sends her husband a note saying she has pleurisy. He rushes there thinking she is on her death bed but finds she is having a supposed liason with Stephen Fairfax- Lacy. She tells him she wants a divorce. Stephen won't be the one to help with the proof as he is a polititian and it would ruin his career. Bea is secretly admired by Stephen and she dresses and flirts with him after Helene doesn't appear interested any longer. He follows her to a farm field for a walk and they see a goat. Bea leans over the fence to look at the goat and it grabs onto the sleeve of her pelise and she asks Stephen for help. He hops over the fence and falls in the mud but the goat won't give it up. She opens the gate and yells at the goat and he finally lets it go but in the meantime it gets her favorite bonnet and eats it. They both laugh a lot. He kisses her and she likes it. He asks her to woo him. Meanwhile Esme's secret lover's mother comes to visit as her son went home to tell his mother he was going to marry Esme. She would not want her son married to Infamous Esme who had many affairs prior to her son who caused Miles to have a heart attack and die. He knows his mother will go to Esme's house to try and stop a marriage. He arrives while his mother is there making it look like he is escorting his mother. Esme in desparation not wanting to marry Sebastian because of the scandal and she promised Miles she would become respectable if they had a child, she announces she is engaged to Stephen Fairfax Lacy. Now Stephen is wearing three hats to three different ladies, Esme's fiance, Helene's lover, and Bea's seducer and possible beau. Bea likes both Esme and Helene and won't rock the boat until Stephen is free.
In the end, Helene's husband leaves and the story continues in the next book.
Esme proposes to Sebastian using verses from the Song of Solomon. William (the baby) is Sebastian's after all.
Bea proposes to Stephen using Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the balcony scene.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2022
Ich bin durch das Cover auf das Buch aufmerksam geworden, auch der Klappentext klang vielversprechend.
Nach dem lesen bin ich ein bisschen geteilter Meinung. Fans von historischen Liebesromanen finden hier die bewerten Motive wieder. So ganz überzeugen konnte mich die Geschichte aber leider nicht.
Die Frauen, besonders Esme und Arabella, fand ich wirklich großartig! Ich hab mit ihnen mitgefiebert und wollte auch unbedingt, dass sie ein Happy End bekommen.
Die Männer hingegen konnten mich bis auf Sebastian nicht überzeugen. Stephen fand ich zuweilen wirklich fürchterlich.
Am Anfang haben mich die abwechselnden POVs ziemlich oft rausgebracht, aber man hat sich daran gewöhnen können.
Nach dem lesen bin ich ein bisschen geteilter Meinung. Fans von historischen Liebesromanen finden hier die bewerten Motive wieder. So ganz überzeugen konnte mich die Geschichte aber leider nicht.
Die Frauen, besonders Esme und Arabella, fand ich wirklich großartig! Ich hab mit ihnen mitgefiebert und wollte auch unbedingt, dass sie ein Happy End bekommen.
Die Männer hingegen konnten mich bis auf Sebastian nicht überzeugen. Stephen fand ich zuweilen wirklich fürchterlich.
Am Anfang haben mich die abwechselnden POVs ziemlich oft rausgebracht, aber man hat sich daran gewöhnen können.
April 4, 2011
Vaguely reminds me of the Decameron, assorted people assembled in a country villa where they passed time exchanging tales of nonsense, in case of this book however, sampling lives of nonsense. Like, if author thought this out, there's nothing remotely romantic and everything absolutely insane, making love in the field where the goat, sheep and other farm animals gambol. (Think dung in the unmentionables.)
Too many secondary characters cluttering up the plot.
Too many secondary characters cluttering up the plot.
January 12, 2022
It was okay. The author aimed for something rather profound about sexual vs. emotional intimacy, but for me it missed the mark.
I also found Esme's subplot distracting--give it breathing room in its very own book, for goodness' sake!
To be fair, I have not read any of the previous books in the Duchess Quartet.
I also found Esme's subplot distracting--give it breathing room in its very own book, for goodness' sake!
To be fair, I have not read any of the previous books in the Duchess Quartet.
July 23, 2016
I liked the book but Esme and her idiotic reactions got on my nerves. Sebastian is not stuck up anymore and I like his determination.
Bea and Stephen make a good couple, but for some reason their story didn't touch me that much.
Looking forward to Rees and Helene's story.
Bea and Stephen make a good couple, but for some reason their story didn't touch me that much.
Looking forward to Rees and Helene's story.
April 3, 2018
I was not sure after finishing this book whether to file it under historical romance or science fiction-fantasy. A set of more hedonistic unappealing characters I could not have dreamed up. Lady Bonnington was the character that saved the book from being utter trash, and she was only a supporting character. Amoral at best and immoral at worst, the characters came across as ladies of ill repute rather than ladies of the beau monde. Nothing to admire here. As for the plot. Honestly, a goat?
December 2, 2017
Melodramatic- like a farcical play - feigned relationships for a variety of reasons. And it went on and on...... I gave it 3 stars based on the skill of the narrator to keep me listening until I finished despite the silly characters and plot!
March 19, 2023
Took me forever to get into this story! Farce really…the hero ends up engaged to Esme, sleeping with Helene, and in love with Lady Bea…but my favorite part of the story was Esme and Sebastian 💕💕💕..but in the end as always loved it!!
September 25, 2017
Actual rating: 2.5/5 but rounded down to 2/5
June 16, 2024
Ngl I didn't really care about Bea and Stephen, I just wanted to keep reading about Esme and Sebastian.
April 1, 2025
Honestly it may be four stars only because Esme finally got her head out of her ass by the end, and I just like Stephen.
March 28, 2018
The characters are a bit vulgar for my taste. The continuing story of all of the other characters is still fun though. Just not a fan of reading about main characters that are quite so... Shallow? Base? Without morals?
November 1, 2019
I rounded up from 3.5 stars.
August 9, 2023
Well this was a long and painful ride... Thankfully I could listen to the audiobook, and the fact it was part of a bookclub read gave me the strength to get through it.
Seriously, why so many characters and POV? I was so sure the story was all about Esmee and her gardener/marquess. Even if I haven't read the two previous books, and witness her all journey with her late husband, I rooted for her from the first page. I can't say the same about the suppose MCs who were so difficult to connect with in comparaison. Their only good scenes involved the goat. But I couln't seriously see how his feelings for her were more than mer lust. And also she was an interesting and strong female character, we didn't had enough info about her, appart her interest for naughty poetry.
I like that our two lead ladies are two experience women, who know their worth and how to seduce men. But I also struggled with how men and the other ladies view them for this very reason, as they are constantly degraded for expressing openly their desire and sicking for it. When men are glorified doing the exact same thing. The double standard is appalling, and sadly it's still the same in the 21th century. The book didn't age well in that aspect.
Seriously, why so many characters and POV? I was so sure the story was all about Esmee and her gardener/marquess. Even if I haven't read the two previous books, and witness her all journey with her late husband, I rooted for her from the first page. I can't say the same about the suppose MCs who were so difficult to connect with in comparaison. Their only good scenes involved the goat. But I couln't seriously see how his feelings for her were more than mer lust. And also she was an interesting and strong female character, we didn't had enough info about her, appart her interest for naughty poetry.
I like that our two lead ladies are two experience women, who know their worth and how to seduce men. But I also struggled with how men and the other ladies view them for this very reason, as they are constantly degraded for expressing openly their desire and sicking for it. When men are glorified doing the exact same thing. The double standard is appalling, and sadly it's still the same in the 21th century. The book didn't age well in that aspect.
August 19, 2015
Beatrix and Stephen were two wonderfully rich characters and I loved getting to know them. They had great chemistry and still managed to have a wonderful romance despite the messiness of the whole situation they were thrust into.
I liked that Bea was in a lot of ways strong and wholly herself, yet was balanced by very relatable fears and experiences as well. Despite her experience she was also naïve and innocent in a lot of ways, and it was great to see Stephen bring those things out in her.
Stephen was an interesting hero, coolly logical and yet inexplicably drawn to Bea despite her reputation.They had a wonderful chemistry and I enjoyed them getting to know each other.
I honestly wished that Stephen and Bea could have gotten more time in a book that should have been entirely theirs. As much as I like Esme and Sebastian, and I appreciate the challenges that their relationship had, I did wonder why they just hadn’t gotten their own book?
I understood that Esme was kind of the tie that binds as such between all of the books in the series, but it could have been balanced differently to achieve tell the stories in a deeper and even more enriching way.
I truly think that if these two could have gotten more time (Bea and Stephen) this book would have rated even higher for me.
The downer for this book, after really liking Esme for the first two books, was Esme. Pregnancy does bring about changes in your personality, which I understand, but she dithered and acted like an idiot and was wholly unlike the smart, perfectly normal woman who we started to know in the first book.
It could have been better in many ways, but what I got of the primary romance was great except for the stupid fake relationships that popped up along the way, it got a little silly there with that. However, a great read nonetheless.
I liked that Bea was in a lot of ways strong and wholly herself, yet was balanced by very relatable fears and experiences as well. Despite her experience she was also naïve and innocent in a lot of ways, and it was great to see Stephen bring those things out in her.
Stephen was an interesting hero, coolly logical and yet inexplicably drawn to Bea despite her reputation.They had a wonderful chemistry and I enjoyed them getting to know each other.
I honestly wished that Stephen and Bea could have gotten more time in a book that should have been entirely theirs. As much as I like Esme and Sebastian, and I appreciate the challenges that their relationship had, I did wonder why they just hadn’t gotten their own book?
I understood that Esme was kind of the tie that binds as such between all of the books in the series, but it could have been balanced differently to achieve tell the stories in a deeper and even more enriching way.
I truly think that if these two could have gotten more time (Bea and Stephen) this book would have rated even higher for me.
The downer for this book, after really liking Esme for the first two books, was Esme. Pregnancy does bring about changes in your personality, which I understand, but she dithered and acted like an idiot and was wholly unlike the smart, perfectly normal woman who we started to know in the first book.
It could have been better in many ways, but what I got of the primary romance was great except for the stupid fake relationships that popped up along the way, it got a little silly there with that. However, a great read nonetheless.
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