Dubious About The Duke

One definite advantage about reading Regency Romance it that it is pure escapism into a world that can be crafted to fit into reader’s expectations, based in a time where the rules of society where strict. To break them or flaunt them was surely instant discredit and definitely death to any idea of advancing through the ranks by marriage.

So what happens when a shy beauty meets a reluctant Duke, Winston ‘Win’ Cutler, who is struggling to accept his role in Society as the Duke of Woodmont on the sudden death of his brother; a brother for whom he had who he no respect.

Seraphina ‘Sera’ Nicolls is returning to England from Canada to visit her beloved twin sister Araminta ‘Minta’ who has married Percy, the cousin of Win, and is hopeful she may make a marriage that will see her happily settled in England as well. But as she is so shy she is doubtful she will attract anyone she may possible like to marry.

Win has decided he will marry for convenience, follow societies rules for Dukes and live a very ordinary life safe in the country at his Estate. When he meets Sera he is intrigued as is she by him, and they chat easily together on the carriage from the docks to ride to Minta’s new home.

But the Dukes’ very carefully created plans are about to be rapidly changed when he discovers he has two nephews, children of his brother’s Mistress, and that their mother has consumption with only has days left to live. The boys specialise in running away, getting into trouble and generally behaving badly and it is not too long before Sera finds herself volunteering to be nanny to the boys.

Societies rules are being bent to the limit as Win, Sera and the boys will all be living in the same house, all be it a very large house. It is not long before the Sera and Win realise they have a lot of interests in common and their feelings for each other are growing into a more than polite association.  

Nicely written with a quirky sense of humour running throughout the plot Dubious About The Duke is the fifth book in the Second Sons of London series but can be read as a stand-alone. If you are looking for a comfortable read for a little self-indulgent time out, in a time and period not all that long ago, Dubious About The Duke fits the bill nicely.