The Duke She Despised

Alina K. Field

May 2020 · The Upstart Christmas Brides Book 1 · Havenlock Press

About this ebook

The new Duke of Kinmarty has lost everyone who mattered and gained naught but a title, and debt, and an old pile of a castle. When a fetching new housekeeper appears on his doorstep frantic to ready the place for the Yuletide, he seizes the chance for a respite from grieving and pretends to be the new duke’s estate factor.

 

With her cousin’s children due to arrive from India, a vicar’s widow hides her identity and takes a position as housekeeper to their dreadful uncle, the man who years ago sabotaged her own chance for happiness. Overwhelmed by a castle understaffed and in disarray, she forges a bond with the new duke’s charming but not very competent factor, not knowing that he’s hiding something as well.

 

When allies become lovers, each senses the truth may rip them apart. Can their love survive when she discovers he’s the duke she despised?

Previously published in the Winter Wishes Regency Holiday Romance Anthology

Ratings and reviews

Filomena Grant (“Minny”) tried to comfort her cousin Penelope, newly married to Evan MacDonal, despite his family’s opposition. Penelope told Minny that Andrew MacDonal, Penelope’s new brother-in-law, had slighted both Penelope and her at his club calling them social-climbing upstarts and twists; and he made sure others around him had heard the nasty remarks. Using her dowry for passage, she and her new husband were going to India to take advantage of an opportunity and to avoid Evan’s brother. Minny would be alone and Andrew had ruined her chances of a match now. No other gentleman would seek her out after what he said. She was humiliated. Now a young vicar’s widow, Minny Marlowe accepted a job as housekeeper at Kinmarty Castle, where she heard from an innkeeper along the way there that the new Duke had let the old Duke’s factor go after embezzling all the money, and they were all laughing at the reputation of the dukes who enjoyed the charms of their housekeepers! Minny swore she would take a poker to one that even tried! Without even a butler being hired yet, she would have to manage the entire staff of footmen and maids at the duke’s castle on her own. Trying to stay warm as she walked to the castle, she didn’t see the rider who bowled her over into the snow! Yet her only thought was to hurry because she had to make Kinmarty ready for the widowed Penelope and the children for Christmas. The lane curved and the castle, when she saw it, was magnificent! Andrew MacDonal, new Duke of Kinmarty, tossed aside his neckscarf and discussed the state of the ledgers with his friend, the Honorable George Lovelace. He didn’t want to be the Duke; this was Evan’s role – but Evan was dead now from a fever. George reminded him he would need a wife now as well to produce an heir. A knock sounded at the door. He thought it was that embezzler again, so he didn’t put on his scarf and answered with two days of beard growth making him look unkempt. He found an attractive woman standing there, asking to come in since no one answered at the servants’ door. She assumed him to be a servant as well, and he didn’t correct her. He would be the new factor, Mr. Andrews, who could spar with the witty woman where the duke or a footman could not. And she wouldn’t be here long since he would be selling the place. He took her to the study to introduce George and let her assume he was the duke since she had not seen Andrew for 10 years. How was this trickery going to turn out? If she finally recognized him, or if his sister-in-law did, he would be in a very awkward situation! And what would Minny do when she eventually discovered that the man she was falling in love with was actually the Duke she despised? This was a clever story line with a switch of identities to amuse the reader. I enjoyed the fact that Andrew saw the castle as an ugly burden, whereas Minny saw its beauty as she helped in restoring what she could. Grab your copy if only to see the exciting reveal of identity that should produce quite the fireworks display!

Oddest Book… A Joke? I know that I have said this on occasion in reviews, but this is certainly needed for this book! I am not quite sure how to take it, even after having finished reading it. I found the first chapter that takes place 10 years before the main body of the text to be totally confusing. I actually double-checked the Amazon description to make sure that I hadn't jumped into the middle of a series or an offshoot of one; apparently, I did not. I found that the first chapter just so confusing, with so many different people and references to others as well as rapid action. Frankly, I found it hard to parse, and it took me well into the next section to actually figure a lot of things out. Then I was so surprised to be jumped 10 years into the future. Some situations seemed dire on the different sides, yet there was an odd jocularity to the book with disguising switch of characters. It just absolutely jarred me. The book felt like a joke of some sort, but the joke is on us, the reader; I just could not laugh along. Maybe I'm just missing something, but I just could not get into and enjoy this book at all. I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

How could one possibly despise a Duke? I mean their title alone should demand respect! Well when he slanders your name and he does not even know you, that is grounds for acute dislike. Yes, that was Filomena's fate and years later she gets an opportunity to get close to Andrew, the new Duke of Kinmarty. Unfortunately she mistakes him for an Estate Manager, but continues to ready the castle for her cousin and her children. Such and entertaining story of mistaken identity, which does not stop the sparks from flying! I adored the characters and the premise. I know you will too so don't miss this one!