Series: Rogues to Riches (Book 4)
Nathaniel, Duke of Rothhaven, lives in seclusion, leaving
his property only to gallop his demon-black steed across the moors by
moonlight. Exasperated mamas invoke his name to frighten small children, though
Nathaniel is truly a decent man -- maybe too decent for his own good. That's
precisely why he must turn away the beguiling woman demanding his help.
Lady Althea Wentworth has little patience for dukes,
reclusive or otherwise, but she needs Rothhaven's backing to gain entrance into
Polite Society. She's asked him nicely, she's called on him politely, all to no
avail -- until her prize hogs just happen to plunder the ducal orchard. He
longs for privacy. She's vowed to never endure another ball as a wallflower.
Yet as the two grow closer, it soon becomes clear they might both be pretending
to be something they're not.
Good book about two likable people who are victims of
their circumstances. Althea is the sister of a duke who chose to live at her
estate in Yorkshire rather than subject herself to London society again. Althea
and her siblings grew up in poverty with an abusive father. Althea spent her
childhood protecting her younger siblings while her older brother worked to put
food on the table. Years later, Quinn unexpectedly inherited a dukedom,
thrusting the whole family into the limelight. Althea became the target of
gossips making her Seasons miserable. Tired of the bullying, Althea decided to seek
a husband in Yorkshire, only to find that the local gossips are just as bad. Althea
decides that her only hope is to get the local duke on her side.
Nathaniel, Duke of Rothaven, is known in the county as an
abrasive, unwelcoming recluse. He gallops his horse around the moors during the
night, a habit that adds to his fearsome reputation. It becomes evident very
quickly that Nathaniel fostered that reputation himself as a way to hide the
truth. Far from being the black-hearted villain he portrays, Nathaniel is a kind-hearted
man who loves his family and his lands. He plays the part of the duke to
protect his older brother, an epileptic, who was sent to an asylum when they
were boys. Told by their father that Robbie was dead, Nathaniel didn't discover
the truth until after his father's death. It has taken five years for Robbie to
recover even partially from the cruel treatment he received, and he still
refuses to take his proper place. This leaves Nathaniel caught in a dilemma. He
can't reveal the truth, which would put Robbie in danger, and open himself up
to accusations of fraud. It also means that he is condemned to live his life
alone.
I loved the first meeting between Althea and Nathaniel.
She tried traditional methods of making his acquaintance but was turned away.
So she purposely set her prize-winning hogs loose in his orchard, hoping to
draw him out. Nathaniel's fuming arrival at her door is met with offers of tea,
cakes, and conversation. He tries to refuse and is met with an iron-willed
refusal to accept his rejection, complete with a gentle lecture on proper
behavior. Her request for advice on
dealing with local society surprises him, and he gives her a few hints before
making his escape.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Nathaniel
is intrigued by Althea and drawn to her in unexpected ways. She stirs emotions
in him that he has locked away for years. He can't court her, he can't marry
her - but he can't stay away from her. Althea discovers the truth early on, and
her understanding further endears her to Nathaniel. Althea is impressed by the
man under the reputation and drawn to his love for and loyalty to his family. A
crisis throws them together, and their feelings for each other continue to
grow. I ached for Nathaniel, who can't see any way for them to be together. His
sadness, loneliness, and frustration are evident, as are his conflicting
emotions of love, anger, and guilt toward Robbie. Althea is independent, stronger
than she realizes, and also haunted by the events of her childhood. Not only is
she protective of her own family, that protectiveness soon extends to Nathaniel
and Robbie. Things become more complicated when an outsider makes trouble, and
Althea's family gets involved. The situation is resolved brilliantly, and I
laughed as the spiteful cat got her comeuppance at the same time Nathaniel receives
his heart's desire.
I loved the secondary characters as they were portrayed.
Robbie made my heart ache for everything he went through. The descriptions of
the treatment of people with epilepsy were vivid and painful. It was surprising
that Robbie had come as far as he had. That said, there were times that I felt
he was unreasonably obstinate. I liked what I saw of Althea's brother, Stephen.
He is another who suffered at the hands of his father in ways that affected his
life permanently. He loves his family and is very protective of Althea. I liked
seeing him go head-to-head with her as both were evenly matched in
stubbornness. There is also a great scene between him and Nathaniel. The staff
at Rothaven were also wonderful. They are old and valued retainers working well
past when they would typically have retired. They take full advantage of their
positions in some surprising ways.
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