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An Unquestionable Lady
GENTLEMAN OFFERS SECURITY AND SOCIAL POSITION IN RETURN FOR MARRIAGE WITH AN UNQUESTIONABLE LADY.
Too proud to apply to relatives or friends for help, Miss Claudia Talton was desperate enough to answer the advertisement. But why would an affluent and well-positioned gentleman need to go to such lengths to find a wife? Then she learned his name... Giles Verylan. Now she knew why he needed to advertise; no lady would dream of allying herself with such a rake. But the touch of his hand, the knowing smile, and the challenging gleam in his appraising eyes made her wonder if perhaps she was not a lady after all-at least in certain circumstances...
A SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENT
Verylan looked over his prospective bride with clinical dispassion. Yes, she would do. Obviously a lady, and attractive-damned attractive-into the bargain... as well as sensible enough to appreciate the advantages of what he was offering. A marriage of convenience--his convenience--no more and no less. After providing him with an heir she would be free to live a life of luxury unencumbered by his attentions, which he would satisfy elsewhere. Miss Tallon was hardly in a position to expect a love match, and neither was he. The two of them were thus eminently suited to one another... if only Verylan knew how well!
Too proud to apply to relatives or friends for help, Miss Claudia Talton was desperate enough to answer the advertisement. But why would an affluent and well-positioned gentleman need to go to such lengths to find a wife? Then she learned his name... Giles Verylan. Now she knew why he needed to advertise; no lady would dream of allying herself with such a rake. But the touch of his hand, the knowing smile, and the challenging gleam in his appraising eyes made her wonder if perhaps she was not a lady after all-at least in certain circumstances...
A SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENT
Verylan looked over his prospective bride with clinical dispassion. Yes, she would do. Obviously a lady, and attractive-damned attractive-into the bargain... as well as sensible enough to appreciate the advantages of what he was offering. A marriage of convenience--his convenience--no more and no less. After providing him with an heir she would be free to live a life of luxury unencumbered by his attentions, which he would satisfy elsewhere. Miss Tallon was hardly in a position to expect a love match, and neither was he. The two of them were thus eminently suited to one another... if only Verylan knew how well!
- GenresRegencyHistorical
285 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1990
About the author
Rosina Pyatt
16 books2 followersRosina Pyatt lives on the Isle of Wight, England, UK, with its sparkling white beaches, and has three children, of whom she is immensely proud. In addition to Rosina Pyatt's historical romance novels, the author also has written contemporary romance novels as Anne Beaumont.
She started out as a Jill-of-allwriting-trades, but she says it was her experience as a magazine fiction editor, buying stories and condensing them for serialization, that taught her to separate the bones of a story from the flesh. ln her own writing she starts with her characters—-“a heroine I can identify with, then a hero who seems right for her." She says that many writers work in reverse—plot first, then characters. "That's fine," she says. 'If we all had the same method, we might all be writing the same books, and what a crashing bore that would be!"
She started out as a Jill-of-allwriting-trades, but she says it was her experience as a magazine fiction editor, buying stories and condensing them for serialization, that taught her to separate the bones of a story from the flesh. ln her own writing she starts with her characters—-“a heroine I can identify with, then a hero who seems right for her." She says that many writers work in reverse—plot first, then characters. "That's fine," she says. 'If we all had the same method, we might all be writing the same books, and what a crashing bore that would be!"
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 2, 2026
London 1817
Twenty-six year old Claudia was the daughter of a Baronet in Essex. Eight years ago her betrothed whom she loved dearly, was killed in war. Since then she turned her back on romance.
Her father died a year ago and was succeeded by a remote relation. The new family ill treated Claudia and made her life a living hell. She had no money, no hope no means to escape.
Claudia saw a newspaper advertisement: "Gentleman offers Security and Social Position in return for marriage with an Unquestionable Lady". It both repelled and attracted her, but she wrote to the London lawyer listed on the advertisement, anyway.
Claudia wondered if the gentleman was old, hideous, infirm or not a gentleman at all. But she had no choice.
The lawyer was glad to see Claudia. He had interviewed governesses and companions claiming to be more gently born than they were. The few genuine ladies had been of such advanced age or unattractive looks, that he had not dared to recommend them to his client. But Miss Claudia Tallon had fine breeding, intelligence and beauty.
Claudia was uneasy. What if it was some kind of deceit. But what choice did she have? A home where she was unwanted.
Claudia's heart beat erratically when she saw her prospective husband. By no stretch of the imagination could she envisaged this man needing to advertise for a wife. He seemed the embodiment of every woman's secret dream.
But when he introduced himself as Giles Verylan, she was staggered. Now she understood why he needed to advertise for a wife. No lady would dream of allying herself with such a scoundrel.
At 19, the now 37 year old Viscount, eloped with a 17 year old heiress, married her and abandoned her and their baby daughter within two years. He had not become reconciled with his wronged wife but run off with somebody else's wife to India. The cuckolded husband, a Baron, was so deeply ashamed that he had shot himself. Shortly afterwards Gile's own wife died from a broken heart, it was said.
He never married the Baroness he ran off with. He had left her too.
This is only a summary of the conversation, not quotes.:
"I am a Verylan and l will do my duty by my name. That is where you come in"
"On the contrary, my Lord. That is where l go out"
"I will require two sons of you, Miss Tallon. I will be obliged if you do not delay the matter by producing daughters, which are of no use to me at all. Then l will go back to India as l have little love of England "
"I am not a broodmare! You appear to have forgotten that your first wife had a daughter "
"Tansy is eighteen. It will be your duty to chaperone her and ensure she is creditably married. Once Tansy is creditably established, my duty towards her will be finished. That just leaves you to throw two sons and l can be off to India "
"Throw two sons? I never heard anything so indelicate. You are a monster!"
"You should hold it to my credit that l have been honest with you, or would you have preferred me to beguile you with deceit? Once l have my sons, you can share your bed with someone more to your liking, if you so wish. You will have to be discreet, and know that l will recognise no bastards."
"You have said a great deal about what you require in a wife. You haven't asked what l require in a husband. As a lady, l will require respect, courtesy and consideration from my husband "
"I shall make an effort, provided you are a dutiful wife. I have been at pains to make certain that you enter this marriage under no delusions about me. I will endure no recriminations hurled at me afterwards. They could occur only because you have deceived yourself. Therefore the blame will be yours, not mine. I am a gentleman by birth, Miss Tallon, l am not one by inclination."
Claudia knew it was going to be hell being a dutiful wife. She was of a curious and jealous nature. She was temperamentally and emotionally unsuitable for such a role. Would she be able to restrain herself for all that was coming? And a great deal of adversity was coming... Page 39 out of 253 pages
There is a scene in the last quarter of the book that l really hated. It is a spoiler.
Twenty-six year old Claudia was the daughter of a Baronet in Essex. Eight years ago her betrothed whom she loved dearly, was killed in war. Since then she turned her back on romance.
Her father died a year ago and was succeeded by a remote relation. The new family ill treated Claudia and made her life a living hell. She had no money, no hope no means to escape.
Claudia saw a newspaper advertisement: "Gentleman offers Security and Social Position in return for marriage with an Unquestionable Lady". It both repelled and attracted her, but she wrote to the London lawyer listed on the advertisement, anyway.
Claudia wondered if the gentleman was old, hideous, infirm or not a gentleman at all. But she had no choice.
The lawyer was glad to see Claudia. He had interviewed governesses and companions claiming to be more gently born than they were. The few genuine ladies had been of such advanced age or unattractive looks, that he had not dared to recommend them to his client. But Miss Claudia Tallon had fine breeding, intelligence and beauty.
Claudia was uneasy. What if it was some kind of deceit. But what choice did she have? A home where she was unwanted.
Claudia's heart beat erratically when she saw her prospective husband. By no stretch of the imagination could she envisaged this man needing to advertise for a wife. He seemed the embodiment of every woman's secret dream.
But when he introduced himself as Giles Verylan, she was staggered. Now she understood why he needed to advertise for a wife. No lady would dream of allying herself with such a scoundrel.
At 19, the now 37 year old Viscount, eloped with a 17 year old heiress, married her and abandoned her and their baby daughter within two years. He had not become reconciled with his wronged wife but run off with somebody else's wife to India. The cuckolded husband, a Baron, was so deeply ashamed that he had shot himself. Shortly afterwards Gile's own wife died from a broken heart, it was said.
He never married the Baroness he ran off with. He had left her too.
This is only a summary of the conversation, not quotes.:
"I am a Verylan and l will do my duty by my name. That is where you come in"
"On the contrary, my Lord. That is where l go out"
"I will require two sons of you, Miss Tallon. I will be obliged if you do not delay the matter by producing daughters, which are of no use to me at all. Then l will go back to India as l have little love of England "
"I am not a broodmare! You appear to have forgotten that your first wife had a daughter "
"Tansy is eighteen. It will be your duty to chaperone her and ensure she is creditably married. Once Tansy is creditably established, my duty towards her will be finished. That just leaves you to throw two sons and l can be off to India "
"Throw two sons? I never heard anything so indelicate. You are a monster!"
"You should hold it to my credit that l have been honest with you, or would you have preferred me to beguile you with deceit? Once l have my sons, you can share your bed with someone more to your liking, if you so wish. You will have to be discreet, and know that l will recognise no bastards."
"You have said a great deal about what you require in a wife. You haven't asked what l require in a husband. As a lady, l will require respect, courtesy and consideration from my husband "
"I shall make an effort, provided you are a dutiful wife. I have been at pains to make certain that you enter this marriage under no delusions about me. I will endure no recriminations hurled at me afterwards. They could occur only because you have deceived yourself. Therefore the blame will be yours, not mine. I am a gentleman by birth, Miss Tallon, l am not one by inclination."
Claudia knew it was going to be hell being a dutiful wife. She was of a curious and jealous nature. She was temperamentally and emotionally unsuitable for such a role. Would she be able to restrain herself for all that was coming? And a great deal of adversity was coming... Page 39 out of 253 pages
There is a scene in the last quarter of the book that l really hated. It is a spoiler.
June 28, 2022
4* to 3.5* but then goes pretty low with that ending but still I will give it 3* for keeping me so engrossed.
An incredibly cruel, boorish and abusive H with a scandalous past, a strong determined h who gives back pretty good, an interesting and tense moc with a MU soon adding to the distance, many a head-on clashing, the H's daughter and her story and all this in an HR - gelled into what promised to be a story right up my alley.
And for most part it is - but for certain icky (thus spoilerfic) things and that quick, let down of an ending. If only the author had taken a slightly different way of doing things.
An incredibly cruel, boorish and abusive H with a scandalous past, a strong determined h who gives back pretty good, an interesting and tense moc with a MU soon adding to the distance, many a head-on clashing, the H's daughter and her story and all this in an HR - gelled into what promised to be a story right up my alley.
And for most part it is - but for certain icky (thus spoilerfic) things and that quick, let down of an ending. If only the author had taken a slightly different way of doing things.
June 30, 2022
RTC
This was not a romance
This was not a romance
December 25, 2013
3-4 stars. Dark story, very good writing. The hero is too unlikable even at the end when the reason for his behavior was revealed. It did not excuse him, in my opinion, for all the bruising, harsh words and despicable treatment his wife received from him.
November 10, 2021
This was and enjoyable read.
May 11, 2026
Eewww...
They wouldn't stop fighting. And somehow she fell in love with him, " I can fix him" style. The guy claimed to be horrible, was super rude to her and yet she thought there was a man behind the facade.
His story ar the end was unbelievable, like sir, you expect us to believe you were in love with her after we witnessed how you treated her?
And the side story with the maid was idiotic, Claudia was a dummy for blinding trusting her. I knew Mrs. Hewitt didn't lie, especially when Mellows admitted to have worked for 6 ladies! Talking about homely she is, so naive. Even more naive after the revelation following her wedding night, I mean come on really?!
1 star, didnt enjoy it. Didn’t care for the "romance" and was annoyed by the constant fighting and the cheating 🤮
They wouldn't stop fighting. And somehow she fell in love with him, " I can fix him" style. The guy claimed to be horrible, was super rude to her and yet she thought there was a man behind the facade.
His story ar the end was unbelievable, like sir, you expect us to believe you were in love with her after we witnessed how you treated her?
And the side story with the maid was idiotic, Claudia was a dummy for blinding trusting her. I knew Mrs. Hewitt didn't lie, especially when Mellows admitted to have worked for 6 ladies! Talking about homely she is, so naive. Even more naive after the revelation following her wedding night, I mean come on really?!
1 star, didnt enjoy it. Didn’t care for the "romance" and was annoyed by the constant fighting and the cheating 🤮
October 18, 2017
Sorprendentemente bien escrito. Very well written.
SPOILERS AHEAD: The story is credible and the characters very well depicted. Still, one star less because there is not enough grovel. Come on! He has cheated on her and he is forgiven in a minute after he speaks of love...????!!!! A very rushed end.
SPOILERS AHEAD: The story is credible and the characters very well depicted. Still, one star less because there is not enough grovel. Come on! He has cheated on her and he is forgiven in a minute after he speaks of love...????!!!! A very rushed end.
December 28, 2024
3.5
I hated how he treated her when he found out that she wasn't virgin. Double standards. And her Hs always loved the OWs to distraction. At leas when he found out that his loved OW was a gold-digger and a cheater he left her but payed her handsomely while he threatend not giving a penny to the heroine after he found out that she wasn't pure as he thought while he were always generous and caring for the OWs. I doubt that he would have married the heroine if he knew she wasn't chaste.
I still don't know if he still had sex with his current paramour in the day of the wedding but he surely was smelling her and later when he went to Paris.
But I do believe by the end that he loved the heroine unlike others 2 books by the author that I read.
I hated how he treated her when he found out that she wasn't virgin. Double standards. And her Hs always loved the OWs to distraction. At leas when he found out that his loved OW was a gold-digger and a cheater he left her but payed her handsomely while he threatend not giving a penny to the heroine after he found out that she wasn't pure as he thought while he were always generous and caring for the OWs. I doubt that he would have married the heroine if he knew she wasn't chaste.
I still don't know if he still had sex with his current paramour in the day of the wedding but he surely was smelling her and later when he went to Paris.
But I do believe by the end that he loved the heroine unlike others 2 books by the author that I read.
February 22, 2026
This was fabulous! Written so well with that historical flair, vocabulary and depth. A MOC with a brute of a hero (yet curiously vulnerable) and a heroine who couldn't be cowered. He met his match in her. Throughout the book you had the impression of a rake of a hero with a temper and caustic attitude constantly humiliating her. Until he broke. Then you are shown a man with more integrity and courage than his family who basically disowned him. It was a tear jerker, an intense read and an enlightened HEA. Loved it.
September 21, 2024
The heroine's virtue/virginity was a big issue in this one but i really enjoyed the story. It's a second chance love story where the MCs land themselves in a MOC and learn to love and adapt to each other. The Hero is the cruel alpha type with a tragic back story and the h has suffered enough before sbe meets the H. While the hero is cruel to the h, it's all good in the end and i liked the authors writing.
Want to Read
March 17, 2022French
March 16, 2026
Questa quarta rilettura a distanza di tre anni mi stava piacendo molto. I personaggi sono ben assortiti e ci si divertiva. Finché lei, trattata come una pezza da piedi, non ha esordito con “sono innamorata, povera me soffrirò” (o qualcosa del genere). Ma è davvero possibile che ci si possa innamorare di un deficiente che ti tratta da schifo? Ma davvero? Va bene che siamo ai primi dell’800, ma la tizia in questione pare pure un tipino moderno. Niente da fare, anche questo non supera la prova del tempo.
February 15, 2016
When you read this book the hero of this piece has absolutely no redeeming qualities,heroine seems emotionally unbalanced you know you're in trouble.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews