When an eligible earl meets a plain music teacher…
Max Fenton, Earl of Burnham, needs someone to attend a
house party with him to keep an eye on his willful, romantically inclined
stepsister. Though he must have taken leave of his senses when he persuades his
sister's prickly piano teacher, Miss Lucy Lambert, into the job! Especially
when they are inadvertently compromised together…and his only option is a much
more permanent proposal!
Fun book to read. The story opens as Lucy awakens from a
drugged sleep, confronted by her pupil's irate stepbrother. It seems that
Sophia used Lucy to hide her departure to a forbidden house party. After
explaining the circumstances, Max hires Lucy to accompany him to the same house
party to discover what unsuitable man Sophia imagines herself in love with.
I liked Lucy. She is intelligent and determined. Estranged
from her parents after their actions resulted in the devastating loss of her music,
she moved to London to become a piano teacher. I loved that Max doesn't
intimidate her and how she stands up to him.
I had a more challenging time with Max. I liked that he
takes his responsibility for his stepsister seriously and his protectiveness is
understandable. I ached for him and the tragedy that had such a significant
impact on his life. Max also comes across as cold and arrogant and doesn't consider
what effect his plan could have on Lucy and her reputation.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Max
and Lucy. It was simply a business arrangement at first, with neither
anticipating anything else. It didn't take long for sparks to grow, jumpstarted
by an episode of having to hide under a bed. Each is aware of the class gap
between them, but that doesn't stop the attraction from growing. Lucy's ability
to ferret out information impresses Max, and he finds himself more and more
drawn to her. I thought he lacked empathy until the evening of the musical performances.
It warmed my heart to see him comfort her on losing her ability to play and
open her eyes to another way to feel the music. From this point, the feelings
between them really started to grow. Max fought hard against them, wanting
nothing to do with the idea of love. Lucy acknowledged hers to herself, but
though she dreamed of the possibilities, was painfully aware of Max's opinion
on the subject.
When Lucy discovers Sophia's secret, matters become far
more complicated. Max is adamant that Sophia's feelings wouldn't outlast the
difficulties and refuses to go along with her. Until this point, I thought
Sophia was a spoiled brat, and her immediate reactions bear this out. Her
attempt at revenge puts Lucy's reputation at risk, compelling Max to propose. I
loved how Lucy stood up for herself and refused to give in to a life without
love. I especially enjoyed how she avoided his attempt to convince her with an
unusual method of leaving the house party. Max isn't finished, though, and
tries yet again with predictable results from the stubborn Lucy in a great
scene with her landlady. With their return to London, Max faced a changed
Sophia and began to get an idea of the depth of her feelings. Thanks to her, he
also began to accept his own feelings for Lucy but didn't know what to do.
Meanwhile, Lucy spent time with her happily married
friends who offered her sympathy and assistance if she wanted it (and even if
she didn't). There was an interesting discussion between Lucy's friend, Verity
(the duchess), and Max, giving him more to think about. I ached for Lucy, who
looked at a lonely life ahead of her. Her life took an odd twist when her
estranged parents showed up, quivering with righteous indignation over her
"disgrace." Max's timely arrival provided Lucy with unexpected
support and unanswered questions after his departure. I loved her
"aha" moment and what she did with it. The scene on the street was
fantastic, and I loved seeing them fully open up to each other. The epilogue
was terrific, and I loved the little part with Lucy and her friends. I'm
looking forward to the final book with their friend Melissa.
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