An unconventional friendship
Could ruin their reputations…
Respecting each other's desire for independence, Lord
Henry Cary and writer Melissa Taverner enjoy an uncomplicated friendship. Henry
finds her amusing, intelligent company, but she's also an attractive woman, and
he's alarmed to find lust sneaking in… Having always viewed marriage as a cold
matter of convenience, Henry dare not risk their friendship with a proposal.
Yet when their closeness sparks rumors, he might not have a choice!
Good friends to lovers story. Melissa and Henry met in an
unusual manner when they joined forces to save a young woman from abduction by a
rake named Harlby. When Henry introduces himself later, he makes arrangements
to call on her the next day.
Melissa is spirited, intelligent, and independent. She
recently persuaded her father to allow her to live in London with only her aunt
as a chaperone. Melissa uses her time to write society articles for a newspaper
and lurid novels for Minerva Press. Having witnessed her parents' marriage, she
decided "marital bliss" is not for her. Henry is the fourth son of a
duke and makes his way in the world as part of the diplomatic corps. Recently
returned from Vienna and the post-war diplomatic efforts there, he is watching
a suspicious character while waiting for his new posting. Henry's observations
of his parents' relationship leave him in no hurry to look for a wife.
I enjoyed the meeting between Melissa and Henry the next
day. They connect quickly and find it unusually easy to talk to each other. Melissa
intrigues and amuses Henry with her opinions, and they arrange to walk in the park
the next day. With similar outlooks on marriage, their "friends at first
sight" relationship is unusual, to say the least. Both are surprised by
how easily they share their lives and backgrounds. It isn't long before Henry
recruits Melissa to help him keep an eye on his quarry. At the same time,
Melissa and her friends discover that Harlby is up to his old tricks. They plan
to split up and attend as many functions as possible to find out his latest
target. Melissa and Henry team up and use their time to fulfill both missions.
I liked seeing the relationship between Henry and Melissa
develop. Both are quick-witted and intelligent, their conversations full of
teasing and honest discussions. When circumstances put them on the path to
thwart Harlby's latest plan, they don't hesitate, even though they risk their
reputations. I loved seeing their teamwork as they threw themselves into their
pursuit. Neither expected the sparks of attraction that appeared between them
during their travels. Both worry about the effect on their friendship if the
other finds out about their feelings, sure that the other is only interested in
friendship. Rumors of their travels bring on the inevitable consequences, including
some interesting confrontations. Those secrets, which go against their earlier
honesty with each other, cause some drama near the end. Fortunately, the
friendship that underlies everything made it possible to discern the truth. I
liked the ending and seeing their friendship enhanced by the love they felt for
each other. I would have enjoyed an epilogue showing their life at Henry's next
posting.
The two substories, Henry's pursuit of the spy and the
issue with Harlby added some additional depth to the story. I liked Melissa's enthusiastic
support and assistance in their observations of the spy. Her actions at the
church helped Henry immensely. Their determination to stop Harlby, while adding
to the story's excitement, also gave Melissa a chance to educate Henry on a
Regency woman's circumstances and life.
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