The Unexpected Duchess by Valerie Bowman
Publication date: April 29, 2014
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperback
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~~Reviewed by Debbie~~
Lucy was just trying to help her friend, Cassandra (Cass)... Out of marriage to a duke that is! Cass is in love with Julian, but Julian is to marry Penelope - that is, if he survives his injuries from the war. As a dying request, Derek Hunt, the Duke of Claringdon, promised Julian he would marry and take care of Cass. But
Cass only wants Julian.
Determined to help Cass get out of marriage to the Duke, Lucy agrees to help her. Lucy is the daughter of an earl and a very beautiful woman, so Derek wonders why she is not married. He soon learn why, as she keeps interfering in his courtship of Cass. Derek had never met a more sharp tongued woman; a woman
who is strong-willed, opinionated, vocal, and quick to cut a man down with her words.
As Derek pursues his wooing of Cass, Lady Lucy is always right there to discourage him. At each ball, a ride in the park, or an afternoon outing, Lucy is there to discourage Derek. Cass insists that she want Lucy’s help, but does she really? Even as Lucy repeatedly tells Derek to stop courting Cass, he is
nonetheless determined to continue. So why is it that despite his constant bickering with Lucy concerning what’s best for Cass, his thoughts turn to doing something else with Lucy?
