Series:
Alastair-Audley (Book 2)
Dominic Alastair, Marquis of Vidal and fiery son of the
notorious Duke of Avon, has established a rakish reputation that rivals his
father's, living a life of excess and indulgence. He is a bad lot a rake and
seducer, reckless, heedless, and possessed of a murderous temper. He is known
by friend and foe alike as the "Devil's Cub." Yet as the handsome and
wealthy heir to a Dukedom, he is considered a good prospect on the marriage
market. Vidal currently has his eye on the young, lovely, and unintelligent Sophia
Challoner, and Sophia's greedy mother is more than happy to encourage his
dubious attentions. Banished to the Continent after wounding his opponent in a
duel, Vidal decides to abduct the silly aristocrat bent on seducing him into
marriage and make her his mistress instead. In his rush, however, he seems to
have taken the wrong woman?
Intelligent, practical Mary Challoner knew wicked Vidal,
wouldn't marry her sister, despite her mother's matchmaking schemes. So Mary
coolly prepared to protect her naive sister by deceiving Vidal. Substituting
herself for her young sister, she certainly hadn't expected the nobleman to
kidnap and take her to France. She had little notion he would grimly hold her
to her part of the bargain. Now he had left her, and she was alone, a stranger
in a strange land, prey to the intrigues of glittering, heartless, 18th century
Paris. Only one person could rescue her--the Marquis himself. But how could she
ever trust this man? How could she even hope to overcome the contempt in which
he held her? And how could even the sudden flowering of her love ever bridge
the terrible gap between them?
This was a reread of one of my favorite Georgette Heyer
books, an enemies-to-lovers story with her signature wit and humor. Dominic Alastair,
Marquis of Vidal, is an unrepentant rake at the age of twenty-four. He is known
for his high-stakes card playing, his attentions to unsuitable women, and his
quick temper. He is an apple that didn't fall far from either of his parental
trees. At the beginning of the book, he kills a highwayman and simply leaves
the corpse on the road. He later duels a fellow card player, with the result
that his father "encourages" him to leave the country for a period of
time. He impulsively decides to ask his current flirt, Sophia Challoner, to go
with him. Marriage is the last thing on his mind, but the ditzy Sophia (and her
calculating mother) believe they can force the issue.
Sophia's older sister, Mary, is unlike her mother and
sister. She is practical, intelligent, and protective of her sister. When she
intercepts Vidal's invitation to Sophia, she disguises herself and takes
Sophia's place. She plans to reveal the deception when it is too late for Vidal
to do anything about it, then return home. Unfortunately, she did not count on
the ferocity of Vidal's temper. She's stunned when he states his intention to take
her with him, with or without her consent. Their confrontation is intense, as
Mary has no trouble expressing her opinion of him. Her practical side has her
going along for the time being.
Here is where the craziness begins. We have Vidal and
Mary headed for Paris. His intentions are initially still dishonorable as he
compares Mary to her sister. I laughed out loud when she defends her virtue at
pistol-point, waking him up to the fact that she is not her sister. Aghast at
having compromised a respectable woman, he is gentleman enough to realize that
he must marry her. Their interactions are fun, with Mary calling him out when
needed, and Vidal doing his best to get his way. Mary insists that marriage is
not possible because their stations are so far apart. Paris provides a respectable
haven for Mary, where she stays with her friend, Juliana, who is also Vidal's
cousin.
Juliana has her own romantic troubles. She has fallen for
a young man her mother disapproves of, and has been sent to Paris to get her
away from him. Juliana is a bit flighty and spoiled, but has a good heart. Her
antics frequently appear childish, and the arrival of her somewhat staid suitor
brings out the reckless side of her. Misunderstandings create conflict and
heartache.
Back in England, Mary's mother acts as the wronged
woman's devastated mother, demanding action from Vidal's mother, the Duchess of
Avon. The Duchess remains the same volatile and outspoken person she was in
These Old Shades, determined to save her son from such a clear misalliance. I
laughed out loud as she once again importunes her brother-in-law, Rupert, into
helping her. Their journey to France in search of the runaways is excellent
fun.
Meanwhile, misunderstandings all around send Mary fleeing
Paris with the assistance of a chivalrous gentleman, to avoid ruining Vidal's
life. Vidal, who has finally realized the truth of his feelings, is in hot
pursuit. All roads lead to Dijon, where everyone comes together in a flurry of
accusations, fights, and further confusion. My favorite part of the book comes
near the end, when Mary, fleeing once again, encounters an older gentleman who
comes to her aid. I loved watching him draw her out about what had happened to
her, and his commentary along the way is priceless. The gentleman, of course,
is the Duke of Avon, in all his glory. I loved the subsequent arrival of Vidal
and Avon's master touch in the resolution of the issues, topped off with Rupert and his wine.
