This is the first book that I have read form this author and now am eagerly awaiting to read the sequel. It is an English spin on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. The characters are fascinating and the story masterfully written.
Lady Astrid Everleigh is the beauty. Nine years ago as an innocent 16 year old, she became engaged to Edmund Cain, but when he tried to take her, before their wedding, she found his advanced repulsive and cried off. Revengeful, he lied and claimed that he called off the wedding, because she lacked virtue. Her family was shamed and left society and a year later after their parents died from an illness, she and her younger sister Isobel were left in the care of their aunt and uncle, who had spent through most of their fortune. However, their father had gifted them each a fortune, only to be released upon marriage or their 26 birthdays. For further revenge, Cain, now the Earl of Beaumont is sniffing after young Isobel and their uncle is ready to sell her to him. Astrid can think of only person who might help her- The Beast of Beswick, aka, the Duke of Beswick, Lord Nathaniel Harte.
Nataniel Harte was the second son, the spare. His father was a cold hearted man, so he secured himself a captain's commission and head off to war. Cain was a deserter who abandoned his post resulting in his men being ambushed. Nataniel managed to save only four of his men while he was stabbed by bayonets, almost costing him his life and leaving him mutilated with hideous scars. While Cain somehow manage to lie about the engagement and make himself a hero, the ton and everyone he cared about, his father, brother and fiancee, turned their backs on him instead of recognizing him for the real hero. Everyone except his beloved Aunt Mabel. After the deaths of both his brother and father, he becomes the Duke of Beswick. With both visible and emotional scars, he has locked himself away at Beswick Park, with a few faithful retainers that he has known most of his life (and who will call him when he is self destructing), and a swinging door of others, who had no empathy for this fractured soul. One of the few pleasures he has is destroying his father's priceless porcelain vase collection.
Astride offers herself up as a bride, but he has no interest in marrying or producing children, who would be scorned by their peers and eventually leave him. But after she returns home and finds that her aunt and uncle had deliberately arranged for Isobel to be compromised by Beaumont, she packs them up quickly and with a few loyal staff, returns to Beswick Park to offer herself as a housekeeper and to inventory the vases, as her father had given her a superior education. He agrees to give the ladies safe haven and asks his aunt to chaparon. And thus, Astrid and Thane (Nathaniel) become verbal sparring partners and gradually develop and tender for each other. But can Astrid convince him that he is the only man that she wants and needs?
Wonderful characters, entertaining repartee, lush descriptions and intrigue make this a very entertaining book.
Lady Astrid Everleigh is the beauty. Nine years ago as an innocent 16 year old, she became engaged to Edmund Cain, but when he tried to take her, before their wedding, she found his advanced repulsive and cried off. Revengeful, he lied and claimed that he called off the wedding, because she lacked virtue. Her family was shamed and left society and a year later after their parents died from an illness, she and her younger sister Isobel were left in the care of their aunt and uncle, who had spent through most of their fortune. However, their father had gifted them each a fortune, only to be released upon marriage or their 26 birthdays. For further revenge, Cain, now the Earl of Beaumont is sniffing after young Isobel and their uncle is ready to sell her to him. Astrid can think of only person who might help her- The Beast of Beswick, aka, the Duke of Beswick, Lord Nathaniel Harte.
Nataniel Harte was the second son, the spare. His father was a cold hearted man, so he secured himself a captain's commission and head off to war. Cain was a deserter who abandoned his post resulting in his men being ambushed. Nataniel managed to save only four of his men while he was stabbed by bayonets, almost costing him his life and leaving him mutilated with hideous scars. While Cain somehow manage to lie about the engagement and make himself a hero, the ton and everyone he cared about, his father, brother and fiancee, turned their backs on him instead of recognizing him for the real hero. Everyone except his beloved Aunt Mabel. After the deaths of both his brother and father, he becomes the Duke of Beswick. With both visible and emotional scars, he has locked himself away at Beswick Park, with a few faithful retainers that he has known most of his life (and who will call him when he is self destructing), and a swinging door of others, who had no empathy for this fractured soul. One of the few pleasures he has is destroying his father's priceless porcelain vase collection.
Astride offers herself up as a bride, but he has no interest in marrying or producing children, who would be scorned by their peers and eventually leave him. But after she returns home and finds that her aunt and uncle had deliberately arranged for Isobel to be compromised by Beaumont, she packs them up quickly and with a few loyal staff, returns to Beswick Park to offer herself as a housekeeper and to inventory the vases, as her father had given her a superior education. He agrees to give the ladies safe haven and asks his aunt to chaparon. And thus, Astrid and Thane (Nathaniel) become verbal sparring partners and gradually develop and tender for each other. But can Astrid convince him that he is the only man that she wants and needs?
Wonderful characters, entertaining repartee, lush descriptions and intrigue make this a very entertaining book.