The first ball of the Season was coming in two weeks. Lady Phoebe Sterling stepped out of the dress shop to get a breath of fresh air while her sister, Lady Prudence, continued to look over the design plates to find the perfect gown. As she walked along with the footman, she saw a slovenly man jump from his wagon and start to beat his scrawny horse with a whip. She was about to cross the street to accost the man when a gentleman strode up and grabbed the whip from him. After the two shouted at each other, he took out a pouch and purchased the poor animal! She recognized the Duke of St. Albans, who was thought cold and reclusive. Yet he gave her a wide grin and rode away in his carriage.
The sisters attended their first ball of the Season. Like their 3 sisters and their parents, they wanted a marriage for love. They had found no one in the previous two Seasons who had interested them in that way. Connections, wealth, and heirs were all that mattered to their friends. There was a murmur and the Duke of St. Albans came down the stairs – and headed right to Lady Phoebe! Her dance card was full, so he took a pencil, scratched out a name and added his own – for the supper waltz! Then he went to the card room. When he returned for his dance, she was surprised at how he seemed to know which twin she was, yet he was confident he could tell them apart easily. He was amazed to be enjoying the banter with her, however. She was happy, smiling, and he found that very attractive.
The Duke’s mother asked him to join her at home. She immediately told him to forget the young woman he danced with; she had invited another woman to dinner for him to meet as a potential wife. He told her not to make promises in his name; he was taking Lady Phoebe for a carriage ride on Friday. As they rode in the carriage, he finally turned to Lady Phoebe and asked her to marry him, allegedly as a way of not having to learn all about the courting ritual. When she said No, he was shocked! She told him that unless they loved each other, she would not marry just for his connections and title. And he repeated that love had no part in it and emotions would never influence his decision. What would happen now? Both were firm in their opinion, and marriage was not an option under those circumstances. Would they go their separate ways now? So he took her back to her family where he saw them hug and kiss and genuinely enjoy being with each other.
This book was so much fun to read! The story line was charming, the characters were perfect and likable. The banter between the Duke and Lady Phoebe kept me chuckling all the way through, especially since it was so out of character for the “cold” Duke! Grab a copy of this wonderful story and enjoy the complexities of love!