dianed's review
4.0
I first read this story in Outwitting the Duke - a collection of stories in the series When the Duke Came to Town. It holds up on a second reading. Deb Marlowe is able to bring in the match-meddling Duke of Danby as well as Hestia Wright - founder of the Half Moon House - helper of women in trouble.
The Earl of Hartford has a problem - women are falling all over him, literally! They throw themselves at him in the hope that he will be compromised and forced to marry one. They don't really want Hart, they want his title and his famous castle. He comes up with a plan to find a temporary fiancee. He tied to get his cousin from America but she decided to marry someone else and missed the boat. That forced him to turn to Hestia to help him find an appropriate faux fiancee.
Emily Spencer is trying to keep her family fed and housed. She is also the illegitimate grand-niece of the Duke of Danby. We meet him sneaking around town trying to get in touch with her and he enlists Hestia's help too.
While poor, Emily was raised as a gentleman's daughter and has all the manners she would need to pass muster in the ton and her kindness and friendliness helps to make her popular with most of the ton. the only exception is Miss Paxton who has her sight's set on the Eaarl herself.
Even as they put on a show for the ton, their feelings start to grow and when Emily saves Hart from Miss Paxton's schemes she thinks she is giving up and chance at happiness with him until the Duke comes to her rescue.
In the end, they travel to the Earl's castle where they live happily ever after. Deb Marlowe provides an entertaining and hopeful story that will make you laugh and cry but never make you feel bored.
The Earl of Hartford has a problem - women are falling all over him, literally! They throw themselves at him in the hope that he will be compromised and forced to marry one. They don't really want Hart, they want his title and his famous castle. He comes up with a plan to find a temporary fiancee. He tied to get his cousin from America but she decided to marry someone else and missed the boat. That forced him to turn to Hestia to help him find an appropriate faux fiancee.
Emily Spencer is trying to keep her family fed and housed. She is also the illegitimate grand-niece of the Duke of Danby. We meet him sneaking around town trying to get in touch with her and he enlists Hestia's help too.
While poor, Emily was raised as a gentleman's daughter and has all the manners she would need to pass muster in the ton and her kindness and friendliness helps to make her popular with most of the ton. the only exception is Miss Paxton who has her sight's set on the Eaarl herself.
Even as they put on a show for the ton, their feelings start to grow and when Emily saves Hart from Miss Paxton's schemes she thinks she is giving up and chance at happiness with him until the Duke comes to her rescue.
In the end, they travel to the Earl's castle where they live happily ever after. Deb Marlowe provides an entertaining and hopeful story that will make you laugh and cry but never make you feel bored.
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