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The Designing Duchess
When Lady Grace Tyneford attends a drawing class for debutantes, she and her friend Lady Isabelle Dumphries are hiding from their inattentive parents that the event includes a life model. A man. A naked man. Well, not quite naked – a gauzy black hood hides his face to protect model and artists from embarrassment.
During their Bath debut season, Isabelle has attracted attention from Lord Robert Charlton, but Grace has no obvious suitors, and denies to Isabelle that she views any of the eligible bachelors with particular favor.
Privately, however, she carries a torch for Henry Cavandish, Duke of Egremont. The problem is so do most of the girls. Whispered confessions of love at first sight abound, but Grace has kept her own counsel rather than appear to be part of a silly gaggle chasing the handsome, eligible, titled, and wealthy duke. She’d rather let him go than that.
It’s a pity too, because she and Cavandish are a little better acquainted than most. They’ve danced a couple of times, been seated together for dinner twice, and his conversation was quick and amusing. But that was all. Never has he shown her attention beyond the ordinary.
Henry Cavandish might be handsome, eligible, titled, and wealthy, but he must have been out of his mind when he accepted a wager with his friend Robert Charlton that he couldn’t possibly win. And he’d not even thought to ask what the forfeit would be if he lost.
Posed as Michelangelo’s David, peering out from behind a gauzy black mask, he stands naked before a room of young women who gaze avidly and sketch him. His view is hazy through the dark gauze, and he wonders if he knows any of them. One right in front certainly looks familiar – at least vaguely.
When he learns later she is Lady Grace Tyneford and best friends with Robert’s soon-to-be intended, Lady Isabelle Dumphries, he is mortified.
At least they can’t possibly know he and the nude life model were one and the same.
He hopes…
During their Bath debut season, Isabelle has attracted attention from Lord Robert Charlton, but Grace has no obvious suitors, and denies to Isabelle that she views any of the eligible bachelors with particular favor.
Privately, however, she carries a torch for Henry Cavandish, Duke of Egremont. The problem is so do most of the girls. Whispered confessions of love at first sight abound, but Grace has kept her own counsel rather than appear to be part of a silly gaggle chasing the handsome, eligible, titled, and wealthy duke. She’d rather let him go than that.
It’s a pity too, because she and Cavandish are a little better acquainted than most. They’ve danced a couple of times, been seated together for dinner twice, and his conversation was quick and amusing. But that was all. Never has he shown her attention beyond the ordinary.
Henry Cavandish might be handsome, eligible, titled, and wealthy, but he must have been out of his mind when he accepted a wager with his friend Robert Charlton that he couldn’t possibly win. And he’d not even thought to ask what the forfeit would be if he lost.
Posed as Michelangelo’s David, peering out from behind a gauzy black mask, he stands naked before a room of young women who gaze avidly and sketch him. His view is hazy through the dark gauze, and he wonders if he knows any of them. One right in front certainly looks familiar – at least vaguely.
When he learns later she is Lady Grace Tyneford and best friends with Robert’s soon-to-be intended, Lady Isabelle Dumphries, he is mortified.
At least they can’t possibly know he and the nude life model were one and the same.
He hopes…
68 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2024
3 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Ellen Carter
59 books354 followersUSA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Ellen Carter is an award-winning historical romance writer who pens richly detailed historical romantic adventures. A former newspaper journalist, Carter ran an award-winning PR agency for 12 years. She lives in Australia.
On the publication of her debut novel in 2013, Carter was heralded by critics as ‘a writer worth keeping an eye on’ with a style reminiscent of classic suspense novelist Daphne du Maurier. This impression has been borne out in her subsequent work.
Her full-length novels frequently feature psychologically complex relations between the central characters and often delve into dark themes.
Nonetheless, she also occasionally turns her hand to sweet romance (always with a touch of adventure) suitable for younger readers as well as older fans looking for a change of pace.
Elizabeth Ellen Carter’s full-length titles and several novellas have been published by Dragonblade Publishing since 2017. She also regularly contributes to various multi-author anthologies and is a member of The Bluestocking Belles group of Regency romance authors.
On the publication of her debut novel in 2013, Carter was heralded by critics as ‘a writer worth keeping an eye on’ with a style reminiscent of classic suspense novelist Daphne du Maurier. This impression has been borne out in her subsequent work.
Her full-length novels frequently feature psychologically complex relations between the central characters and often delve into dark themes.
Nonetheless, she also occasionally turns her hand to sweet romance (always with a touch of adventure) suitable for younger readers as well as older fans looking for a change of pace.
Elizabeth Ellen Carter’s full-length titles and several novellas have been published by Dragonblade Publishing since 2017. She also regularly contributes to various multi-author anthologies and is a member of The Bluestocking Belles group of Regency romance authors.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 20, 2024
An engaging romance, art and love meld to make a wonderful journey to happily ever after for Grace and Henry.
Displaying 1 of 1 review