Series:
Lyon's Den (Book 48)
He doesn’t believe in love at first sight…
Phillip Villiers, a Cavalry officer who recently returned
from the Napoleonic Wars, considers himself lucky he only lost an eye in
battle, unlike many of his friends who lost so much more. Contemplating what to
do with the rest of his life, Phillip is shocked to learn he’s inherited the
title and estate of the late Duke of Buckingham, who passed away a year ago.
Expecting the late duke’s widow to be an amiable and sedate elderly woman,
Phillip is doubly shocked to discover the Duchess of Buckingham is young,
beautiful, and the most vibrant woman he’s ever met.
She doesn’t believe in happily ever after…
Duchess Sarah Villiers, a widow of one year, considers
herself a practical person, especially regarding life’s ups and downs. Coping
with her new status, she’s determined to be supportive and welcoming of the new
Duke of Buckingham, and that includes teaching him everything there is to know
about managing a large and complex estate. Having no expectations about the new
duke, Sarah is shocked to discover Phillip Villiers is charming, handsome, and
the most compelling man she’s ever met.
An impossible situation or a tempting challenge…
As Phillip and Sarah work closely together managing the
estate, they fight against a mutual attraction and struggle with their growing
feelings. Society would never condone the widow of a duke marrying the heir. It
could cause a scandal that could ruin the reputation of the entire Villiers
family. Completely impossible! But sometimes the impossible is the greatest
challenge of all to the most notorious matchmaker in London. Mrs. Dove-Lyon,
the Black Widow of Whitehall and doyenne of the London gambling world, always
has a card or two up her sleeve when it comes to true love.
Good story with minimal involvement of Mrs. Dove-Lyons
and the Lyon's Den. The story opens after the funeral of the late Duke of
Buckingham, as the Duke's daughters and his second wife, Sarah, console each
other. Sarah's backstory is sad, having been orphaned and left destitute by her
father's bad choices. However, his friend, the Duke, took her in and eventually
married her. It was a marriage of convenience initially, but Sarah and the Duke
grew to love and respect each other. Hen ensured that, upon his death, Sarah
would be financially secure. He also stipulated that she remain at the estate
to continue managing it and to instruct the new duke.
Phillip was a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, where he
served as a cavalry officer and did other special assignments. After being
injured, including losing an eye, he was discharged from the army. Without the military,
Phillip is at a loss about what to do with the rest of his life. With little to
his name and no apparent prospects, Phillip spends some of his time at the
Lyon's Den gambling. He's stunned one evening when he comes home and finds his
uncle's solicitor waiting for him, informing him that he is the new Duke of Buckingham.
His father had caused a rift with his uncle, and Phillip had no idea he was the
heir. He is grateful to learn that his uncle's widow will help him settle into
his new role.
I loved the first meeting between Sarah and Phillip. He
expects an older, motherly woman and, instead, gets a young, vibrant, and
beautiful one. She stirs up sparks of attraction that he works hard to subdue. Likewise,
Sarah thinks about the good-looking new duke far more than she is comfortable
with. Each does their best to ignore the attraction over the next several months
as they develop a deep friendship working together on estate matters. Then cards
arrive, inviting them and Sarah's unmarried stepdaughter, Lizzie, to Mrs.
Dove-Lyons's birthday ball.
The sparks of attraction flare up during the ball. Sarah,
aware that society would not approve of a relationship between her and Phillip,
decides to seek a new husband and a future for herself. She insists that Phillip
seek a bride and secure his future and the ducal line. Phillip isn't interested
in some vapid debutante and doesn't care about society's opinion. His unhappiness
at Sarah's plan is evident as he watches Sarah dance with other men.
Things become more complicated when she discovers a
letter from her father to the late duke. The contents stir Sarah's insecurities
and add impetus to her need to escape her feelings for Phillip. I was irritated
by Sarah's reaction and how she used it as a further barrier between her and
Phillip. I liked Phillip's determination to break through her objections. A
disaster at the estate brings them together to deal with it, but a near tragedy
almost parts them forever. I felt Phillip's fear for Sarah. I loved his
emotional declaration and wanted to shake Sarah for her stubbornness. Thank
goodness for his persistence. I loved seeing her finally let go of her fears and
believe in the possibility of a future together. The ending was terrific, and the
epilogue was sweet.
There was a brief foray into a secondary romance between
Sarah's stepdaughter, Lizzie, and Phillip's friend, Lucien. Their whole story is
told in the anthology
Night of the Lyons, in the tale
Unmasked by the Lyon.
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