I thoroughly enjoyed this witty Regency.
Ian knows he is an idiot for dueling with Lord Paige over cuckolding the mans wife as killing or being killed is not worth what could happen to his mother and sister if they lack his protection. Paige fires early but misses. Ian fires at a tree, but the bullet ricochets and hits a fifteen year old bystander. Feeling guilt, he takes Troy Reshow into his home and brings the lads sister Attie to his house explaining an accident happened during target practice.
Attie thinks Ian is a hero with his treatment of her ailing sibling. However, Ian is stunned when he realizes the pint sized Attie is nineteen and needs a chaperone to stay with him. Ians mom says he must wed her. Carswell says Ian must wed her. Butler and valet make it clear that Ian must wed her. Her stepbrother Spartacus arrives and says Ian must wed her. Finally his sister Dorothy arrives and says she does not need to wed him as she can stay with her. Ian knows what he must do as he wants to wed Attie, but fears her reaction when she learns the truth about the duel. He also worries that someone wants to hurt Attie and Troy.
Attie thinks Ian is a hero with his treatment of her ailing sibling. However, Ian is stunned when he realizes the pint sized Attie is nineteen and needs a chaperone to stay with him. Ians mom says he must wed her. Carswell says Ian must wed her. Butler and valet make it clear that Ian must wed her. Her stepbrother Spartacus arrives and says Ian must wed her. Finally his sister Dorothy arrives and says she does not need to wed him as she can stay with her. Ian knows what he must do as he wants to wed Attie, but fears her reaction when she learns the truth about the duel. He also worries that someone wants to hurt Attie and Troy.
I have just read 2 other of Barbara Metzger's historical romance, Wedded Bliss and The Perfect Gentleman. Both of those were delightful. Unfortunately, The Duel didn't compare.
The plot drug along with dithering from the H and H. Even for a hist. romance, there was some pretty unbelievable twists to the plot. I made myself finish it but there was a fair amount of skimming.
Not her best/better effort.
The plot drug along with dithering from the H and H. Even for a hist. romance, there was some pretty unbelievable twists to the plot. I made myself finish it but there was a fair amount of skimming.
Not her best/better effort.
Another humorous love story from Metzger.
This is a delightful regency romp! Heroine got on my nerves a bit late in the bk with the way she refused to forgive the hero for the role he played in her brother's injury. It all works out well in the end though.
Lud! This author couldn't write herself out of a box.
The reader is deep into the book before he/she realizes that a mystery is part of the story. Lord Marden is pressed into a duel with an offended husband. When Ian Maddox aims his shot wide of his adversary, he inadvertently hits someone hiding in the trees and gravely injures him. Ian immediately takes the (already sickly boy), Troy Renslow, home and calls for a physician. Then he finds the child's sister and brings her to his bachelor townhouse.
Because of Troy's precarious health, Athena stays the night -- without a chaperone. This ruins Athena's chances for a good marriage, she is a tarnished woman. Thus, it is up to Ian to set things right by marrying Athena. The only fly in the ointment is that Athena will not have Lord Marden.
The secondary characters add so much to this tale of Regency manners. Ian has a hypochondriac mother and a feminist sister. Athena brings a deaf dog to Ian's home; Roma loves to attack expensive shoes and boots. This story is light-hearted fun.
Because of Troy's precarious health, Athena stays the night -- without a chaperone. This ruins Athena's chances for a good marriage, she is a tarnished woman. Thus, it is up to Ian to set things right by marrying Athena. The only fly in the ointment is that Athena will not have Lord Marden.
The secondary characters add so much to this tale of Regency manners. Ian has a hypochondriac mother and a feminist sister. Athena brings a deaf dog to Ian's home; Roma loves to attack expensive shoes and boots. This story is light-hearted fun.
If he could go back in time Then the Earl of Marden would not have dueled and he would not have hit an innocent bystander a sickly lad no less. and he certainly would never have brought the boy's sister to stay at his house without a chaperone
From the back cover:
If only he could go back in time. Then Ian, Earl of Marden, would not have dueled, and he would not have hit an innocent bystander a sickly lad, no less. And he certainly would never have brought the boys sister, Athena Renslow, to stay at his house without a chaperone. On top of it all, the nineteen year old beauty is under the mistaken impression that Ian is the gentle hero who rescued her brother instead of the rouge who practically killed him. So in order to keep the Renslows lives from getting any worse, Ian resolves to marry the girl. But Athena wont let the wealthy, handsome bachelor sacrifice everything for a country nobody, despite the urgings of both their families - and their hearts
If only he could go back in time. Then Ian, Earl of Marden, would not have dueled, and he would not have hit an innocent bystander a sickly lad, no less. And he certainly would never have brought the boys sister, Athena Renslow, to stay at his house without a chaperone. On top of it all, the nineteen year old beauty is under the mistaken impression that Ian is the gentle hero who rescued her brother instead of the rouge who practically killed him. So in order to keep the Renslows lives from getting any worse, Ian resolves to marry the girl. But Athena wont let the wealthy, handsome bachelor sacrifice everything for a country nobody, despite the urgings of both their families - and their hearts
From the back: Romantic and funny! An enchanting tale about an imperfect earl and the picture-perfect woman who teaches him that love is always worth fighting for...
