Rating: 8/10
People say opposites attract.. and in this case, they are right! Amy is in her last season and is determined to shed her wallflower image. Meanwhile, Will is a rake who likes to travel a lot, leaving his family to cut off his funds to curb his "devilish" ways. Will decides to go against them and try high-stakes gambling to win enough funds to go off again. He loses 20,000 pounds and him and his friends cook up a scheme to have him marry an heiress to cover the debt and then he can go off traveling with his friends. However, everyone know of Will and his "devilish" ways, so Amy sees right though his charming manipulative ways. But when a scandal leaves them in a compromising situation, these two are forced to marry to avoid scandal. How do they both deal with their marriage life? Can they learn to trust one another?
Pros: I fell in love with Will's family... especially Aunt Hester and her bluntness. I also liked the fact that her friends were there for her. I had some laughs and even some tears. The story was touching and sweet.
Cons: I felt the supporting characters could have been developed more. The story introduced Georgette and Beau, and a lot of pages were dedicated to them, however, by the end of the story, they were hardly mentioned. I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I was hoping for a bit more about their life afterwards - an epilogue of some sort.
All in all, this story was quite entertaining. I would've loved to read more about Will's crazy family and the children.
Favorite parts:
Amy met her gaze and dared to hope her friend’s words would come true. “I’ve missed you.”
Julianne smiled. “I’ve missed all of you as well. We had such fun last season. My husband has never let me forget all of the trouble I caused. He is still suspicious of all of you and believes you influenced me—especially you, Amy.”
“Me?” She laughed. “I always tried to caution all of you.”
Julianne grinned. “He is convinced that you instigated the worst schemes. He believes you hid it all behind your quiet façade.”
Georgette grinned. “Amy, you often have this look in your eyes, as if the cogs and wheels are spinning like a
roulette wheel.”
“I do not,” she said.
Sally shook her head. “It’s true, Amy. While everyone else is chattering like monkeys, you look as if you’re
plotting something.”
“I’m not plotting; I’m thinking.”
“Now there is a euphemism if I ever heard one,” Georgette said.
Julianne said. “...Now I must return to my husband. We cannot stay long, because I must return home to nurse Emma.”
“I cannot wait to see your daughter,” Amy said. “I’m sure she’s beautiful.”
Julianne laughed. “According to my husband, she’s the most beautiful bald-headed lady in London.”
“The first time we met, I formed a low opinion of you. I
regret to inform you that you have just sunk even further in
my estimation.”
Georgette said. “I won’t marry until I cannot eat a bite and swoon at the mere thought of my beloved.”
Amy laughed. “Where did you get such silly notions of falling in love?”
Georgette grinned. “Well, that’s the way Suzanne described her feelings for my brother. But then, she’s a silly goose, and I am far too reasonable for such nonsense. I shall probably end up a spinster with a dozen cats.”
“Aunt Hester, thank you for receiving me,” he said.
She lifted her quizzing glass. “Shocking.”
He grinned. “What?”
“Your eyes aren’t glowing red, and I see no traces of horns or a forked tail.” Hester dropped her quizzing glass.
“Patience has four boys, including Peter, who helpfully waters my mother’s hothouse flowers.”
Amy smiled. “He uses a watering pot?”
“No. Peter is like a dog—only he prefers his grandmother’s flowers rather than trees.”
...
“That boy will be the death of me,” Montague said. “Where is that nurse?”
“Probably writing her resignation letter as we speak,” Hester said. “Who can blame her?”
“Oh, dear,” the dowager countess said. “What must you think of us, Miss Hardwick?”
Hester ambled to the rail and looked down. “No doubt she thinks we’re all dicked in the nob.”
“Hester, please mind your language,” the dowager countess said.
“Bah,” Hester said. “Come along, gel. We don’t bite. Well, one of his Patience’s brats does, but I forget which one. They’re all horrid.”
“Hester, they are my children and your great-nephews,” Patience cried.
“Not by choice,” Hester said.
...
When they reached the landing, Harmony offered to check on the nurse. “She is no doubt quivering in fear for her position.”
“It’s a miracle the woman has lasted this long,” Hester said. She regarded Amy. “Patience’s youngest brat,
Thomas, tried to scalp her last week.”
“He did not,” Patience said. “He only cut a small lock.”
“We should have named him Mischief,” Montague grumbled.
“Are you Scottish, dear?” Grandmamma shouted.
Will smiled as Amy shook her head. Grandmamma thought anyone with red hair must be Scottish.
“I always liked those kilts the Scotsmen wear,” Grandmamma hollered.
“What she really wants to know is what they wear or don’t wear underneath those kilts,” Hester said.
“Oh, Hester, we do not speak of such things,” the dowager countess cried.
Hester snorted and adjusted the tall feather in her turban.
“Maybe they should fight for her,” Aunt Hester said. “You know, like those stags that lock horns.”
“Hester, please,” the dowager countess said. “They are not animals.”
“They’re men; not much difference,” Hester said.
“Why must you say such things?” the dowager countess said.
“Because it’s true,” Hester said. “I’ve had five husbands, you know.”
The widow Diane Benchley, Lady Cameron, has returned to England. After the disgraceful way her and her (now deceased) husband fled to the continent, everyone is curious about the mysterious countess... Everyone besides the Marquis of Haybury, Oliver Warren, who is trying to avoid her at all costs! Then Diane does the unexpected... she pulls Oliver into her scheme to open a gentleman's gaming club in the family mansion!
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