Duke Kennard "Kasey" Cartland prefers painting portraits to attending the acceptable and winked at events of the Ton though he has had mistresses. However, Kasey realizes that he needs a wife so he can have a male child because his current heir, his younger brother Junior, would gamble away the estate. His choice for a spouse is Lady Phillida Granleigh, who thinks his painting is childhood dabbling.
However, his latest portrait of a phantom lover talks to Kasey. Feeling he is losing his mind, Kasey visits Sir Osgood Bannister, known for helping the Ton with their ailments. There Kasey meets Osgood's niece Lilyanne, who believes that the artistic aristocrat has seen a vision that wants to assist him in reconciling his secret life with his patrician life. As Lilyanne and a reluctant Kasey begin to fall in love, the weird other dimensional matchmaker continues to bring them together.

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The Duke of Caswell is a closet artist. He's a man of means; after having a love-making session with his mistress, he rushes up to his private attic and paints what he has just seen and felt. He's been painting like this for years when something goes terribly wrong. His best semi-nude painting starts talking back to the duke. Now he's worried that there is insanity in the family (specifically, his branch). It is time to approach a professional.

I really didn't like the talking painting. However, the whole plot hangs on this device. Once I got past that, the story sailed along with hum and humor. Caswell needs to get away from the ton and searching for a cure for his problems and this gives him just the ticket to get out of London.

In case you are wondering, Barbara Metzger is the queen of problematic pets and addled aunties. When Kasey Cartland (Duke of Caswell) asks his dear ding-a-lings if there is any insanity in the family, the addled aunties worry he's talking about them. Assuring him that they are of sound mind, the aunties remind Kasey that lots of owners dress up their doggies. That certainly convinces me.

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