The Arrogant Duke

by Anne Mather

Escape! Juliet savored the word.

For years, Juliet's father had used his wealth, power and influence to rule her life. But now, she was free to make her own decisions. She had assumed a new name and identity, and had run away to a job on this beautiful West Indian island.

But had she jumped from the frying pan into the fire?

Bad as her father had been, her employer, the Duque Felipe Ricardo de Castro, turned out to be even more domineering. And what was worse—Juliet fell in love with him!

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Romance, Contemporary Romance

189 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Anne Mather is the pseudonym used by Mildred Grieveson, a popular British author of over 160 romance novels. She also signed novels as Caroline Fleming and Cardine Fleming.
Mildred Grieveson began to write down stories in her childhood years. The first novel that she actually finished, Caroline (1965), was also her first book to be published. Her novel, Leopard in the Snow (1974), was developed into a 1978 film.

Reviews

[Alexander Theofanidis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Είχα την απορία τότε, το μακρινό 2000 να διαβάσω ένα από τα "ροζ βίπερ" να δω τι ακριβώς προσφέρουν στον αναγνώστη. Είχα μια ασαφή εικόνα, άντρες με στιβαρά μπράτσα, δυνατά σαγόνια (lantern jaw, cleft chin, ολάκερη κολεξιόν από σαγόνια και πηγούνια για να ερεθιστούν αι κιουρίαι), τριχωτά στέρνα και πλούτο, όμορφες γυναίκες με μεταξωτά εσώρουχα, ακριβά ρολόγια, γιοτ, πλοκή στο όριο του ευτράπελου κ.λπ. οπότε η μισή ντροπή δική μου, σκέφτηκα, η μισή αυτού που τα γράφει, το έκανα το ατόπημα.

Η αλήθεια είναι ότι ήταν ακριβώς όπως το περίμενα. Ούτε ένα κλισέ δεν παραλείφθηκε. Η παιδαριώδης πλοκή με το απαραίτητο τουίστ στο τέλος ήταν εκεί, οι συνουσίες ήταν εκεί, οι παρεξηγήσεις, τα κακομαθημένα πλουσιοκόριτσα, οι σκληροί επιχειρηματίες που έχουν και τεστοστερόνη.

Αν έχετε διαβάσει ένα, τα έχετε διαβάσει όλα. Απλώς πλέον οι γυναίκες έχουν λιγότερες τρίχες στην ηβική χώρα και κατακτούν λίγο περισσότερες διευθυντικές θέσεις και οι ομοφυλόφιλοι είναι λιγότερο αντικείμενο θλίψης και περίγελου. Οι σατέν κιλότες, τα ακριβά ρολόγια, τα πλατιά αντρικά στέρνα (με τρίχες ή άνευ), τα γιοτ, οι ταυτόχρονοι οργασμοί, παραμένουν. Όπως και οι εκφράσεις "μεταξένια θηλυκότητα", ή "ανδρισμός" προκειμένου περί των γεννητικών οργάνων.

[iamGamz · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing read about a young woman who wanting to escape her father's overbearing rule accepts a job in the West Indies as a companion to a handicapped girl.

When she arrives she finds a hostile 16 year old in a wheelchair and an overbearing uncle who makes her feel things she has never felt before.

Throw in the widowed wife of the duke's cousin who has plans to be his wife and you have a lovely, entertaining soap opera-ish story.

A fun read all around.

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the long line of Anne Mather books I've read I find this one to be one of the best. The story was delightful, funny, painful and earth shattering at times. The characters were written to perfect all exhibiting down to real, real world personalities. I feel in love with the hero and heroine. I even began to like Teresa and the heroines father. Such a great read, amazing!

[Cara Bristol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been rereading old Harlequins I enjoyed as a teenager. I don't remember reading this particular book, but Anne Mather was one of my favorite Harlequin authors and this book was available in Kindle, so I read it.

When Juliet's wealthy father tries to marry her off, she sneaks away and gets a job as a companion to a disabled teenager who lives on an island in the West Indies. She discovers her employer is a Portuguese "duque." She was hired against his knowledge and wishes--but he lets her stay.

Both the teenage girl and a "Estelle," the woman who hired Juliet, profess to be in love with the duque, which serves as the conflict in this story.

This book had potential, but I found the romance to be thin. Juliet spends more time with and worrying about the teenage girl and Estelle than she does with the hero. The story needed much more interaction between the H/h.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little romance. There was a large age difference which I wish had been addressed in a meaningful way but that was the style back then (1970). She was quite the insightful young woman and just went into the hero's household and fixed everyone right up. I wish they had spent a bit more time together but that was the way romances were written back in the day. There was a nice feel for the Caribbean islands and I kept flashing on the devastation going on there now which made me sad.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Occasionally hilarious, like when the hero's shirt came unbuttoned as he was inspecting a boat (because, of course) and the nearly twenty-year difference in their ages was a little icky, but overall entertaining.

[Fiona Marsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis is a very early Anne Mather. It is a sweet read with the heroine Juliet taking on a companion role with the wheelchair bound niece of the Duque, Felipe in the Carribean. He is a classic alpha male with a tender side for his orphaned niece.

Felipe is obviously interested in Juliet but his cousins widow plays the Other Woman to the hilt, determined to alienate Juliet and marry Felipe herself. Juliet has her own secrets. She is a rich girl escaping from her dominating father who wants her to marry some tragic losers back in London.

A nice little story with happy endings all round apart from the other woman.

[RomLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape! Juliet savored the word.

For years, Juliet's father had used ahis wealth, power and influence to rule her life. But now, she was free to make her own decisions. She had assumed a new name and identity, and had run away to a job on this beautiful West Indian island.

But had she jumped from the frying pan into the fire?

Bad as her father had been, her employer, the Duque Felipe Ricardo de Castro, turned out to be even more domineering. And what was worse—Juliet fell in love with him!

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is your typical Harlequin romance. Sadly, if I had read it a decade ago, I would have sighed throughout the whole reading experience. As it happens, growing up has made me less inclined to believe in the true possibility of such whirlwind romances. For teens or tweens just willing to dip their toes into YA romance, this could be a great option

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside the book:

"I know why you come here, Senhorita."

The Duque's tone was biting. "You didn't really need a job. You came here to escape a man----a millionaire. In fact. Robert Lindsay's. "

Juliet was startled .How had he found out that she was Robert Lindsay 's daughter?

The Duque regarded her pale features with contempt. "Wasn't Lindsay's money enough for you?" he sneered. "What are you planning to trade your charms for now--- a title?"

Juliet swayed slightly with shock. He thought---- he thought she had been Robert Lindsay's mistress!

"Answer me!" the Duque's snapped. His voice lowered as he moved threateningly nearer."Or I will force the truth from your lips."

[Last Chance Saloon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a sweet Anne Mather story (which is a shock), with an English heroine (21) who is a rich daughter escaping from parental domination for a job in the Caribbean. The job is on the island belonging to the Portuguese duke hero (39) and somehow they fall in love. They don’t spend much time together as he’s always out to dinner elsewhere or he was away on business, but all of a sudden he’s jealous and she becomes a little drippy.
3 1/2 stars as it is harmless, but could have been much better with more interaction.

[Lucimar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avaliação 3,5
Livro água com açúcar.
Achei que seus encontros foram poucos, quando se encontravam quase sempre discutiam.
Mocinho típico: rico e arrogante. Mocinha forte na maioria das vezes...
Gosto de sentir a química num casal, faltou um pouquinho de envolvimento.

[April Brookshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize I was reading a book from 1970 until I was done. (I was thinking late 70s)

It was good, but the H and h didn't spend a whole lot of time together. I can see why the Hero fell in love with the heroine, but I don't really understand why she fell in love with him.

I guess it's 'cause he was hot and had an accent. (Makes sense, right?)

The 16-year-old bitchy niece made things interesting, but the book still could've used more drama.

And I actually liked the little bit of interaction we saw between the heroine and her money-hungry father. More of that would've been interesting, too.

[Ily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, overall its a nice description of island in Barbados but lacking something... it feels something is missing and the author just want to get done with the book. The story describing Portuguese woman as someone that just want to take any possible chances of marrying rich but in the end failed. Is the author has something with Portuguese woman? i read 3 of her novels and most of them portraying women from Portugal/west Indies are all somewhat 'ill-mannered' or will do anything to marry a rich guy. ^ ^" But am sure, this is just characters in the novels...

[Becklyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminds me ofAPrelude to Enchantment. Although both men were arrogant, they are loveable. The duke fought his attraction for the heroine. She felt the attraction but was out of her depth. She was also carrying out a deception which had her concerned about being found by her father on one hand and the duke finding out that she is not who she says she is. I found the story heart warming. I like to see the hero stewing for awhile. Thebdukebwad harsh but I knew why, he was fighting an attraction that he could not control. I would recommend this to all lovers of romance

The setting also added to the feelings of the characters. I love too that the duke was mature enough to ignore his cousin in law idea of marriage.