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The Emerald Duchess
Emily Wyndham heartily hoped never to follow in her mother's straying footsteps, for Emily's mother had followed a path of love that made her the scandal of society—and her death left Emily not only penniless but branded with her mother's shame.
Emily changed her name to Margaret Nelson and became a lady's maid. But one legacy of her mother she could not escape—the ravishing beauty that drew swarms of aristocratic suitors to her like bees to honey.
One such gentleman was the devastatingly handsome, immensely powerful Duke of Wrotherham, whose imperious love Emily could not deny, but whose demand to wed her could bring only disaster to them both. Emily was far too sensible to allow that to happen...if she could just convince her foolish heart.
Emily changed her name to Margaret Nelson and became a lady's maid. But one legacy of her mother she could not escape—the ravishing beauty that drew swarms of aristocratic suitors to her like bees to honey.
One such gentleman was the devastatingly handsome, immensely powerful Duke of Wrotherham, whose imperious love Emily could not deny, but whose demand to wed her could bring only disaster to them both. Emily was far too sensible to allow that to happen...if she could just convince her foolish heart.
238 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 1985
41 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Hazard
57 books15 followersBarbara (Booth) Hazard, a resident of Exeter, NH, died on October 25, 2019 in Boston, MA surrounded by family. Born in 1931 in Fall River, MA, the daughter of Albert L. and Lillian (Holland) Booth, she was raised and educated in New England. She graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 1953 and was briefly employed by Ginn & Company in Boston as a Technical Editor. She married Donald T. Hazard in 1954 and next worked as a Graphic Designer/Artist for a Concord, NH advertising firm.
Originally trained as a musician, Mrs. Hazard also studied oil painting with Amy Jones and for a time had several shows in New York and Vermont. She began to write historical fiction in 1978. First published in 1981, she went on to write and publish 48 books, several of which are also in circulation abroad. She won several awards for her writing.
Mrs. Hazard wrote that there were several things in her life that she was most proud of; being Concertmaster of the MA All State Orchestra in Symphony Hall in Boston, having a successful career as an artist and as a writer, which was her greatest love besides her husband, three sons and their wives.
She loved New England and in particular, Cape Cod, which she visited every year for most of her life. Her other loves included her family, reading and music. She also wrote under the pen name of Lillian Lincoln.
Originally trained as a musician, Mrs. Hazard also studied oil painting with Amy Jones and for a time had several shows in New York and Vermont. She began to write historical fiction in 1978. First published in 1981, she went on to write and publish 48 books, several of which are also in circulation abroad. She won several awards for her writing.
Mrs. Hazard wrote that there were several things in her life that she was most proud of; being Concertmaster of the MA All State Orchestra in Symphony Hall in Boston, having a successful career as an artist and as a writer, which was her greatest love besides her husband, three sons and their wives.
She loved New England and in particular, Cape Cod, which she visited every year for most of her life. Her other loves included her family, reading and music. She also wrote under the pen name of Lillian Lincoln.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 23, 2013
Upon her mother's death, young Emily Wyndham, at age 22, discovered that her previous means of survival was due to her mother's scandalous position as a famous courtesan among the ton. Knowing this, Emily decided in no terms would she do the same, even to earn her bread. Near destitute, Emily applies her well-honed makeup skills as lady's maid under a pseudonym. It was during her employ to Lady Quentin that she encounters the Duke of Wrotherham, who was intrigued by her dazzling emerald eyes and yet appalled by his attraction to a virgin maid. After a passionate interlude, Emily escapes the Duke's offer of marriage for his consideration, not knowing his determination to make her his at all costs...
I was extremely happy to have secured a copy of this book, but I must admit that my excitement dimmed a bit in the first half, which heavily involved Lady Quentin's relationships and made Emily into a secondary character. Though Lady Quentin's choices made encounters possible between Emily and the Duke, such a detailed description of her life and relationships were really quite unnecessary, especially as she made no appearance in the latter half of the novel.
I also wish there were more interactions between Emily and the Duke before he declared his love for her, making this seem far-fetched given few meetings. Overall, though, the incorporation of a cliched but effective plot device - amnesia - in this case strengthened the characters' personalities and suitability, which made a ending a very good read. Still highly recommended despite some flaws!
I was extremely happy to have secured a copy of this book, but I must admit that my excitement dimmed a bit in the first half, which heavily involved Lady Quentin's relationships and made Emily into a secondary character. Though Lady Quentin's choices made encounters possible between Emily and the Duke, such a detailed description of her life and relationships were really quite unnecessary, especially as she made no appearance in the latter half of the novel.
I also wish there were more interactions between Emily and the Duke before he declared his love for her, making this seem far-fetched given few meetings. Overall, though, the incorporation of a cliched but effective plot device - amnesia - in this case strengthened the characters' personalities and suitability, which made a ending a very good read. Still highly recommended despite some flaws!
July 3, 2021
3.5 very interesting book. For a lot of the book, the heroine spends time as a lady’s maid since she is left orphaned and has no other means to support herself. She loathes the idea of being a mistress since she found out her mother was one.
The interesting part is really how invisible the characters of the servants are. In fact, the heroine finds it hard to be so invisible since she is very beautiful. It also shows how vulnerable her position is, and the humiliations and indignities she has to swallow.
The Hero is an honorable man, who would never take advantage of his position over someone in a servant’s role so its doubly hard on him to succumb to his feelings for the heroine. He knows how inappropriate they are.
There is, in the end, a resolution to their dilemma although that did come with other difficulties and further misunderstanding between the couple.
The author quite held my attention, so 3.5 stars. And to her credit, I will no longer be able to read a historical romance without wondering what happens to the maid.
The interesting part is really how invisible the characters of the servants are. In fact, the heroine finds it hard to be so invisible since she is very beautiful. It also shows how vulnerable her position is, and the humiliations and indignities she has to swallow.
The Hero is an honorable man, who would never take advantage of his position over someone in a servant’s role so its doubly hard on him to succumb to his feelings for the heroine. He knows how inappropriate they are.
There is, in the end, a resolution to their dilemma although that did come with other difficulties and further misunderstanding between the couple.
The author quite held my attention, so 3.5 stars. And to her credit, I will no longer be able to read a historical romance without wondering what happens to the maid.
November 27, 2022
The author writing style is very good, unfortunately this book is not in the genre that I like, which is traditional regency in the Heyer style.
It is actually a strange mix of trad regency and bodice ripper. It is beautifully written and well researched, but it doesn't aim to give the reader sweetness and an uplifting feeling, but rather it aims to shock and titillate. I read only half of it, but the main character had already been almost assaulted four times and had premarital sex. But it's not quite a boddice ripper because there's no grafic detail, at least as far as I've read.
Also the story is not very coherent, she has intimate relations with no hesitation whatsoever, which is stange given the morals of the time, the fact that she is an unmarried young woman and her own personal history.
And it is a bit depressing because the main character has no family, no money, no friends, has to work hard, nobody cares about her except to use her, even her good qualities hinder her instead of helping her.
It is actually a strange mix of trad regency and bodice ripper. It is beautifully written and well researched, but it doesn't aim to give the reader sweetness and an uplifting feeling, but rather it aims to shock and titillate. I read only half of it, but the main character had already been almost assaulted four times and had premarital sex. But it's not quite a boddice ripper because there's no grafic detail, at least as far as I've read.
Also the story is not very coherent, she has intimate relations with no hesitation whatsoever, which is stange given the morals of the time, the fact that she is an unmarried young woman and her own personal history.
And it is a bit depressing because the main character has no family, no money, no friends, has to work hard, nobody cares about her except to use her, even her good qualities hinder her instead of helping her.
June 11, 2020
Apparently read twice, and found too rough: mother sexworker, TBI, mature themes--the heroine has too hard a time
May 24, 2024
Enjoyable, though a bit uneven.
November 12, 2017
Regency
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews