Reluctant Duchess (Ladies of the Manor)

by Roseanna M. White Book 2 in the Ladies of the Manor series.

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4.6(1,014)

Lady Rowena Kinnaird escapes an abusive Highland household after an assault leaves her isolated and uncertain of her future. Brice Myerston, Duke of Nottingham, offers her protection while trying to keep the Fire Eyes diamonds from enemies prepared to kill for them. Their hurried marriage draws Rowena into the wider conspiracy and forces both of them to confront trauma, trust and the obligations attached to rank.

Rowena’s fear of dependence complicates Brice’s attempt to help her, and the marriage places two damaged people inside an alliance neither had planned. The jewels ensure that their private difficulties cannot remain private: inheritance, rank and criminal pursuit turn trust into a practical necessity. The historical setting is used mainly to heighten the social consequences of scandal and vulnerability.