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Dukes & Desires #1
The Desirable Duchess
When an intimate secret ruins a young bride’s wedding, all she can do is follow her heart in the New York Times–bestselling author’s Regency romance.Lovely Alice Lacey is a true Incomparable, and her marriage to the Duke of Ferrant is set to be the event of the Season. No one knows that she secretly loves someone else. No one, that is, but a clever talking mynah bird who announces her intimacies at the worst possible moment!Now Alice's marriage is off to a decidedly frigid start, and her new husband is soon rumored to be seeing another woman. But the more her world turns inside out, the more Alice discovers that the man she thought she loved was never what he appeared to be, and the man she married is something far more than she'd hoped. Now all she must do is convince her husband that their match was meant to be . . .
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 1993
83 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Marion Chesney
139 books751 followersMarion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 7, 2022
Looking at the cover, I am sure it's the ow who's in the H's arms as the white clad h looks on ...
December 12, 2023
This one was fun! Both main characters are hotheaded idiots and many people try to manipulate them. I think this is one of the best of these books by Chesney.
September 4, 2023
I think I can forgive only Marion Chesney that that a story that began as a promising more complex love story, changed to a farce and then went too silly.
The concept for a Regency romance was really charming, and the main characters behaved often surprisingly maturely (avoiding many long stupid misunderstandings, at least, in the first chapters). I so long for such a mature story. But at some point, the author put rather ridiculous (absurd) scenes. So, in the last parts, the novel reminded a typical simple fast Chesney's romance, not what I started to hope for at the beginning.
The concept for a Regency romance was really charming, and the main characters behaved often surprisingly maturely (avoiding many long stupid misunderstandings, at least, in the first chapters). I so long for such a mature story. But at some point, the author put rather ridiculous (absurd) scenes. So, in the last parts, the novel reminded a typical simple fast Chesney's romance, not what I started to hope for at the beginning.
February 22, 2024
Regency romance with marital melodrama and clownish villains
Alice Lacey is the beautiful, 18-year-old daughter, and only offspring, of extremely wealthy, doting parents. Her mother is the daughter of a rich merchant, and her father is a member of the untitled aristocracy. During Alice's first season, she formed a deep attachment to handsome, charming, 25-year-old Sir Gerald Warby, who lives in the same county as the Laceys and is a frequent visitor to their estate. Because he has only a rundown estate with little income as the sum total of his assets, Alice's parents have not allowed her to become formally engaged to him.
A year passes, with Alice happily in love with Gerald. It is just before her 19th birthday, and her parents are about to give in and let her formalize an engagement with Sir Gerald. But unexpectedly, the ancient, fabulously wealthy Duke of Ferrant, whose estate marches alongside the estate of the Laceys, passes away, and everything changes in the ambitions of Alice's parents, as to the type of marriage their gorgeous daughter might be able to achieve. They are filled with triumph when the new, 30-year-old, Duke of Ferrant throws a ball at Clarendon, the palatial mansion on the Ferrant estate, and he seems quite drawn to Alice.
Ferrant is tall and handsome, with a fine physique, but he is very intimidating to Alice, who views him as quite old, even though he is only 4 years older than Gerald, mainly because of his cold, haughty manners. After he invites her to share the supper dance with him, her parents take her aside and warn her not to talk about her love for Sir Gerald.
The next day, Alice sends a note with a footman to Gerald, telling him about the ball. Exchanging notes between the two of them is something they have done many times over the past year, and Alice is confused when her mother is suddenly acting oddly about it. Later that day, Alice is shocked to receive a letter from Gerald breaking off their relationship. It is only a matter of weeks from that moment before the Duke pays his addresses to Alice, and they become engaged.
This novel by Marion Chesney involves a type of romantic triangle. The duke is in love with Alice, but for her it is a marriage of convenience because her heart still belongs to Gerald. This novel has several different plot lines: there is Alice's relationship with the duke and a gradual, slowburn romance with him. There is her incremental realization over the course of the novel as to Gerald's true, corrupt character. There is her friendship with an Irish matron and two Irish soldiers, who are a key part of the novel. And there are two villains with murderous intentions.
Overall, this story has many appealing moments, and it is the duke who is in danger of being murdered, rather than Alice, which is a change for MC. Usually, when one of her Regencies includes an attempted-murder plot, the FMC is in as much danger as her love interest, and often more so.
I experienced this novel in audiobook format. I had access to it for free through my Audible membership. The narration is competently done.
Alice Lacey is the beautiful, 18-year-old daughter, and only offspring, of extremely wealthy, doting parents. Her mother is the daughter of a rich merchant, and her father is a member of the untitled aristocracy. During Alice's first season, she formed a deep attachment to handsome, charming, 25-year-old Sir Gerald Warby, who lives in the same county as the Laceys and is a frequent visitor to their estate. Because he has only a rundown estate with little income as the sum total of his assets, Alice's parents have not allowed her to become formally engaged to him.
A year passes, with Alice happily in love with Gerald. It is just before her 19th birthday, and her parents are about to give in and let her formalize an engagement with Sir Gerald. But unexpectedly, the ancient, fabulously wealthy Duke of Ferrant, whose estate marches alongside the estate of the Laceys, passes away, and everything changes in the ambitions of Alice's parents, as to the type of marriage their gorgeous daughter might be able to achieve. They are filled with triumph when the new, 30-year-old, Duke of Ferrant throws a ball at Clarendon, the palatial mansion on the Ferrant estate, and he seems quite drawn to Alice.
Ferrant is tall and handsome, with a fine physique, but he is very intimidating to Alice, who views him as quite old, even though he is only 4 years older than Gerald, mainly because of his cold, haughty manners. After he invites her to share the supper dance with him, her parents take her aside and warn her not to talk about her love for Sir Gerald.
The next day, Alice sends a note with a footman to Gerald, telling him about the ball. Exchanging notes between the two of them is something they have done many times over the past year, and Alice is confused when her mother is suddenly acting oddly about it. Later that day, Alice is shocked to receive a letter from Gerald breaking off their relationship. It is only a matter of weeks from that moment before the Duke pays his addresses to Alice, and they become engaged.
This novel by Marion Chesney involves a type of romantic triangle. The duke is in love with Alice, but for her it is a marriage of convenience because her heart still belongs to Gerald. This novel has several different plot lines: there is Alice's relationship with the duke and a gradual, slowburn romance with him. There is her incremental realization over the course of the novel as to Gerald's true, corrupt character. There is her friendship with an Irish matron and two Irish soldiers, who are a key part of the novel. And there are two villains with murderous intentions.
Overall, this story has many appealing moments, and it is the duke who is in danger of being murdered, rather than Alice, which is a change for MC. Usually, when one of her Regencies includes an attempted-murder plot, the FMC is in as much danger as her love interest, and often more so.
I experienced this novel in audiobook format. I had access to it for free through my Audible membership. The narration is competently done.
January 7, 2020
Alice Lacey has been in love with a man for a few years, and now that she is turning nineteen, her parents will finally allow her to marry him. However, unbeknownst to her, the arrival of the new Duke of Ferrant has completely changed the mind of her parents. Soon, she has been thrown off by her childhood love, and then she eventually agrees to marry the Duke, convinced that it is the best choice for her after having her heart broken. When when on her wedding day, her lost love arrives, and it may destroy the budding relationship with her new husband.
A fun story, but I found myself not really loving it as much as I have her previous books. In fact, I almost gave it only two stars. It was a little less clean than most of her books, but it wasn't too bad, but mostly, I didn't connect with either of the main characters.
A fun story, but I found myself not really loving it as much as I have her previous books. In fact, I almost gave it only two stars. It was a little less clean than most of her books, but it wasn't too bad, but mostly, I didn't connect with either of the main characters.
December 16, 2015
This book was written with a lot of short sentences, and that made the plot seem very shallow. Also, everything was so convenient that you could guess with a 100% precision who would die next (and yes, there are a lot of deaths in this book).
I thought the idea was good, but the main character was a bit too childish and that the Duke was a bit too boring. Everything was very black and white in this.
The ending was a bit out of nowhere, especially because the plot had already been resolved and suddenly, there was a bit more. which felt completely out of nowhere.
I read it because it was a Regency book and it was available on Kindle Unlimited, and apparently it is the first of a series, so I thought it could be good. But now I am trying to decide if the second boom is worth it.
I thought the idea was good, but the main character was a bit too childish and that the Duke was a bit too boring. Everything was very black and white in this.
The ending was a bit out of nowhere, especially because the plot had already been resolved and suddenly, there was a bit more. which felt completely out of nowhere.
I read it because it was a Regency book and it was available on Kindle Unlimited, and apparently it is the first of a series, so I thought it could be good. But now I am trying to decide if the second boom is worth it.
February 20, 2016
Poor Alice is in love with Gerald; but as it is the Regency her parents want her to make a better marriage and the Duke of Ferrant is a superior groom. Lucy is trapped in an arranged marriage. On her wedding day her pet Myna reveals her unrequited love to her groom. And their marriage in name only begins.
As her loveless union is revealed to London society many people want to split the couple to their own ends. Will the Duchess and Duke realize that they are truly in love.
As her loveless union is revealed to London society many people want to split the couple to their own ends. Will the Duchess and Duke realize that they are truly in love.
January 17, 2016
Excellent. The plot hinges on the machinations of a mynah bird ... no really, the plot is about two willful, intelligent people who don't really know what they're doing. Great fun. Wonderful over-the-top villains. And some great secondary characters who set many a plot in motion.
September 27, 2021
3.5 out of 5 stars
December 2, 2008
In a nutshell: Alice is in love with Sir Gerald. Her parents orchestrate a break-up and marry her off to the new peer in town, the Duke of Farrant. A talking bird starts off the controversy. Misunderstandings and general nuttiness ensue.
My opinion: Quite an amusing read...the first time. It's still funny, even six reads later, but if it is re-read too soon, it's just annoying. The talking bird isn't even the funny part. The silliness of the main characters and several supporting characters is what induces chuckling.
The heroine is 18 or so when the story starts and seems in keeping with her age, i.e., naive and trusting. The duke is around 30, a veteran of the Peninsular Campaign, and so a little hardened--something that is not really evidenced in the story except for a very few instances when the duke says/thinks something to that effect. Meanwhile, he has some serious problems with jealousy.
Overall: 4 stars because I do really like this very succinct story. I like Marion Chesney's ability to stuff an entertaining story into a very small book... :o)
My opinion: Quite an amusing read...the first time. It's still funny, even six reads later, but if it is re-read too soon, it's just annoying. The talking bird isn't even the funny part. The silliness of the main characters and several supporting characters is what induces chuckling.
The heroine is 18 or so when the story starts and seems in keeping with her age, i.e., naive and trusting. The duke is around 30, a veteran of the Peninsular Campaign, and so a little hardened--something that is not really evidenced in the story except for a very few instances when the duke says/thinks something to that effect. Meanwhile, he has some serious problems with jealousy.
Overall: 4 stars because I do really like this very succinct story. I like Marion Chesney's ability to stuff an entertaining story into a very small book... :o)
April 11, 2019
Sometimes it isn’t one of the characters and their foibles/weaknesses that make an MC romance. Sometimes it’s a talking mynah bird that spills the heroine’s secret love and longing for her one true love. Plus, Oracle, the blabbermouth bird, does it at the most inopportune moment - at the heroine’s, Alice Lacy, and the Duke of Ferrant’s wedding breakfast. Secret true love is NOT the duke btw. I have to say Oracle was the star of the show though the Duke’s pride was bruised and his heart broken when Oracle began to talk and talk and talk.
July 18, 2018
Honestly funny; a surprising number of farcical deaths for a historical romance. Forced marriage done right for those who like that kind of thing (I very much do).
This guy is pretty ridiculous as he goes from devoted to jealous to angry to disrespectful to repentant and back with stubborn fervour. She is an emotional disaster with great friends.
Quick, lightning fast read. Not as bad as all that for it but better as a telenovella imho tbh
This guy is pretty ridiculous as he goes from devoted to jealous to angry to disrespectful to repentant and back with stubborn fervour. She is an emotional disaster with great friends.
Quick, lightning fast read. Not as bad as all that for it but better as a telenovella imho tbh
January 12, 2025
The Desirable Duchess—PG
Audiobook
Violence: several murder attempts
Language: a few swears and a coarse phrase
Sex: yes, not detailed
This is a frothy little confection of a book and had much more intrigue than I expected with the murder attempts. Our hero is a jealous, emotionally stunted baby man. Meh.
Audiobook
Violence: several murder attempts
Language: a few swears and a coarse phrase
Sex: yes, not detailed
This is a frothy little confection of a book and had much more intrigue than I expected with the murder attempts. Our hero is a jealous, emotionally stunted baby man. Meh.
March 10, 2024
Very good.
April 23, 2024
The story line on this one was terrible....really bad.....
December 27, 2024
M.C. Beaton at her candy coated fluffiest.
October 11, 2020
Two stars because this is a quick and enjoyable reading if you don't take the story too seriously?
I don't know. I think I didn't like the duke's jealousy nor the duchess' naivety. And, yes, it's like someone said below: everything is too muck black and white.
And somewhere around the middle and end of it, I kept thinking that maybe I didn't like this romance that much.
But, hey! This reading is over, I don't really have to keep thinking about it. It's better spend the time searching for other books...
I don't know. I think I didn't like the duke's jealousy nor the duchess' naivety. And, yes, it's like someone said below: everything is too muck black and white.
And somewhere around the middle and end of it, I kept thinking that maybe I didn't like this romance that much.
But, hey! This reading is over, I don't really have to keep thinking about it. It's better spend the time searching for other books...
June 16, 2019
A lucky escape
Alice is in love at least she thinks she is and so is John Duke Ferant! Her parents arrange their marriage but Alice believes she loves Sir Gerald! John is in love with his young bride unbeknownst to her! Mishaps attempts at murder and mistresses later these 2 find their HEA! Hilarious Laugh out loud!
Alice is in love at least she thinks she is and so is John Duke Ferant! Her parents arrange their marriage but Alice believes she loves Sir Gerald! John is in love with his young bride unbeknownst to her! Mishaps attempts at murder and mistresses later these 2 find their HEA! Hilarious Laugh out loud!
May 18, 2014
meh...and extremely short.
February 15, 2016
Written in a style I now identify with MC Beaton. There is some dark humor. Not a typical Regency romance read in any way, though.
February 16, 2020
Audible Romance Pavkage
AUDIOBOOK: Read 15 February 2020
4hrs 24min
Narrator: Justine Eyre is good enough
Not bad but not good.
AUDIOBOOK: Read 15 February 2020
4hrs 24min
Narrator: Justine Eyre is good enough
Not bad but not good.
May 4, 2022
Plenty of ridiculousness here, which is what I was looking for, but the bird...? Whatever. Not as fun as Agatha Raisin or Hamish Macbeth.
February 9, 2021
This is the first novel in a series of Regency Romances published as one book, each novel a different section of the book. All the stories are quite silly, all of them about a young woman, either single or widowed who meets a duke and for some reason dislikes him. Marion Chesney has written a ton of very competent murder mysteries (the Agatha Raisin series and the Hamish series), but her Regency series are not as well done. There is usually a vulgar older woman involved in the series and if there are sisters, they do not get on well together and of course the duke is always tall, well dressed, polite and waiting to fall in love. If it wouldn't be for the Covid-19 lockdown which seems to go on forever, I would not be reading these series (she has 5 of them), but they are relaxing for these times. Too bad, because Chesney is on the whole not a bad writer.
February 1, 2023
Pride and prejudice retelling of sorts. A very staid Duke meets a beautiful young woman and asks for her hand in marriage. He has no idea that she was already in love with a less wealthy man who she believes has just thrown her over.
After they marry, the scoundrel returns and causes problems in their marriage. There’s a parrot that inconveniently repeats pieces of the Duchess’ conversations at the worst times.
The Duke is determined to believe the worst and the duchess is unwilling to sacrifice her pride.
Not bad but the constant misunderstandings grated over time.
After they marry, the scoundrel returns and causes problems in their marriage. There’s a parrot that inconveniently repeats pieces of the Duchess’ conversations at the worst times.
The Duke is determined to believe the worst and the duchess is unwilling to sacrifice her pride.
Not bad but the constant misunderstandings grated over time.
August 18, 2022
Alice is in love with Gerald and is excited about her wedding announcement. Suddenly, he has disappeared and she is thrown into a marriage by her parents with Duke Ferrant. When the duke realizes she is in love with another, their marriage becomes a farce for all of society. When the Duke’s life is at stake, all things change. A romance mixed with murder!
April 6, 2023
A silly girl. Anna Lacey, is married to a jealous Duke. She manages to meet het former lover several times. The Duke catches her. The lover Gerald is trying to kill the Duke. Alice foolishly keeps quiet. There's a talking My nah bird who blurts out all of Alices sevrets. I thought "you stupid girl!" Several times.
September 25, 2023
I had never read a book by Marion Chesney but based on the brief premise I read, I hoped this was be an angsty, historical romance. I think Chesney sets out to write entertaining, farcical books which felt pretty pointless. I did occasionally laugh but when I wanted and the book needed a tone shift, it never happened. I finished the book wondering what the point was.
September 26, 2023
Quick and Cute
I like marriage of convienence tropes. This is a fun one with scheming parents, a cast-aside suitor with a grudge, and hilarious murder attempts. I enjoyed watching the couple bond in this sweet slow burn.
I like marriage of convienence tropes. This is a fun one with scheming parents, a cast-aside suitor with a grudge, and hilarious murder attempts. I enjoyed watching the couple bond in this sweet slow burn.
October 1, 2023
Short audible book which I endured mostly because I missed hearing Justine Erye’s voice in narration. She so good with character voices. The book was a frustrating romp of a story. Not my kind of romance.
April 18, 2024
Silly one dimensional characters
I skimmed the last of this book because the plot was very
hin and the characters silly. wanted to see how it ended and
I was getting annoyed and didn't want to waste my time
I skimmed the last of this book because the plot was very
hin and the characters silly. wanted to see how it ended and
I was getting annoyed and didn't want to waste my time
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews