…with the brooding earl!
Runaway debutante Henrietta Harvey will never live down the mortification of accidentally slipping into Lord Hauxton's bed. So, imagine her horror upon discovering they're snowed in together the next morning! Yet Henrietta comes to find this gruff, cold man has an intriguingly warmer side. Still, hiding a secret that would shock the ton, she's resigned to becoming a spinster. Unless she can trust him with the truth, before the snow melts…
Very good book. The story opens with two different people making their way through the snow to Hailsham Hall. Thomas, Lord Hauxton, is a friend of the Duke's, a widower who has suffered many losses over the last several years. He looks forward to the peace of the countryside, away from the society determined to draw him back in. His hosts are not home when Thomas arrives, delayed on their travels by the same storm. It's late, and he's cold, so he heads right to bed.
The second person is Henrietta. Henrietta is a woman of good birth who is also a painter. It isn't just a hobby; it is a calling. Her mother disapproves, so Henrietta has been sneaking out for years to do her painting. On this day, Henrietta's mother discovered the deception and, in a fit of rage, destroyed the painting that Henrietta spent months working on. Hurt and angry, Henrietta flees to Hailsham. The Duchess is her cousin and best friend, and her haven when she needs one.
Thanks to some confusion among the servants, Henrietta was sent to the same room occupied by Thomas. Their reactions when Henrietta discovered the bed was already occupied were pretty amusing. Henrietta made quite an impression on Thomas, as he did on her. The next morning could have been very awkward, but both Henrietta and Thomas are straightforward people and moved past the night's events easily. Fate isn't entirely done with causing awkward situations, and a rambunctious dog and an unexpected bathtub encounter created some more tension. However, the weather ensured that Henrietta and Thomas had ample time to spend together, and they soon formed a cautious friendship.
Both Henrietta and Thomas have made the decision not to marry. Thomas's many losses made him reluctant to risk caring about someone again. Henrietta is confident that marriage would mean the end of her ability to paint, so she plans to remain a spinster. Neither of them counted on the attraction that sparked between them and the enjoyment they found in each other's company. I loved Thomas's vocal support of Henrietta's painting and his genuine awe of her talent. There are a couple of great scenes with Thomas, Henrietta, and her mother, where he makes that appreciation very clear.
It is easy to see that Thomas and Henrietta's feelings for each other grow and change. Henrietta soon starts to dream of possibilities, even though she is well aware of his anti-marriage intentions. There was hope in her heart when those feelings seemed to be returned anyway. Her despair was heartwrenching when a close call brought all of Thomas's fears rushing to the surface and sent him running. I wanted to shake him until his teeth rattled and make him see what he was throwing away. I loved it when he finally saw the light and feared that he had ruined everything. His big moment at the end was an emotional baring of his heart. I loved the epilogue and Thomas's demonstration of his love and support.
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