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For those who love a good scandal.



Venetia is quite the free spirit. And while Damerel isn't perfect, I think they make a good pair.
I was also quite shocked at the twist that allowed them to get their HEA!
Didn't see that one coming but I liked it.



Venetia has her own money and doesn't need to marry, nor does she necessarily want to, until she meets her match in Lord Damerel. Unfortunately, his scandalous past makes him a non-option to eligible young ladies like herself. It appears that he ran off with a married woman, lived in sin for a bit, and has spent his remaining time in one rakish escapade after another. So. He's had a bit of fun over the years, yeah?
And has now come back to his family's seat - right next to Veneita's.
Where they soon become fast friends.
I love that they genuinely like each other, and that's probably the main reason I rooted for these two to get their HEA.



But there are several things in the book that are products of its time, and that might make it less enjoyable for some readers.
For example, in the scene where Venetia meets Lord Jasper Damerel, he mistakes her for a servant and proceeds to forcibly kiss her.
Ew. For several reasons.
That didn't exactly endear him to me, but I can still remember thinking this sort of behavior was fun in a fantasy sort of way when I was younger. Authors had to write scenes around the values that were drummed into us as young women, so "forcibly" being kissed or touched (which allowed you to go with the fantasy and still see the girls as good) was pretty much the only avenue available to if you were marketing to the mainstream and wanted to add a bit of spice. Looking back, I try not to dock the book for social issues like that, and this was published in 1958, so...yeah.



I also think some people are thrown by the statement she makes at the end about being ok with the uncertainty that he will be able to remain faithful to her over the coming years.
But to me, that just means she's realistic about life. How can you ever be sure someone won't cheat on you? Is there something out there that I'm unaware of that can give you that 100% guarantee when you get married?
No. There's no promise that isn't breakable, and if you think there is, you're fooling yourself.
I know. I'm such a killjoy.



If you're a fan of Heyer's romances, I think you'll like this, though.
Recommended.