A Duke to Elude (Sherton Sisters #1)

Cover Via Goodreads

A Duke to Elude

by Wendy May Andrews

Edition: Kindle, 2020

Synopsis: She’s waiting for true love.
He’s tasked with uncovering the truth.
When nefarious schemes threaten her reputation, he finds his heart on the line with it.

Lady Rosabel, eldest daughter of the Earl of Sherton, has no interest in being a Duchess, despite countless proposals from eligible nobility. Secretly, she is waiting for a love match—preferably with someone who carries no title. Bel’s third Season is predictably disappointing until the mysterious Duke of Wexford arrives and has her questioning her plans to refuse any suitor with his status.

James Allingham, the 6th Duke of Wexford, seems to have inherited the role as advisor to the ailing King along with the dukedom. Investigating Lord Prescott’s schemes is tricky enough without the interference of Lady Rosabel. She is beautiful and intelligent, but Wexford has no time for courting.

Wexford needs to uncover everything about Prescott’s plans to destabilize the colonies. When Lady Rosabel is implicated in the schemes, James fights his suspicions of—and his attraction to—the beautiful young woman as he presses on to find the truth.

Lady Rosabel, the oldest daughter of the Earl of Sherton, is having a third disappointing season. She has turned down countless proposals, waiting for a love match with an untitled gentleman. The attention of the Duke of Wexford is an unexpected complication, ruffling the cool, collected facade she has built up. Will she trust her heart to a titled man, or will she turn away and seek a mere mister?

This was an enjoyable read. I found Lady Rosabel a sympathetic character, realizing that her coolness has made her oblivious to how others feel and then disliking how that realization made her feel. She makes an effort to speak to new debutantes of the season, going about it awkwardly. This catches the attention of the Duke of Wexford, who has known the young lady for several years, but is interested by her change of attitude. He is determined to break through the facade she has built up, remembering the openness she had once had.

At about the halfway point, there is a moment when Lady Rosabel sees him speaking to a Lord Prescott. She immediately assumes that any man who would speak to Prescott must be unworthy. Wexford sees her watching and assumes she must know something of the man’s nefarious schemes. This, in my opinion, was an unexpected plot point I didn’t enjoy. It didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this start to the series. The characters were fun, and the plot was fast moving.

Readers looking for a Regency romance about titled ladies and gentlemen will enjoy this one.