Money can buy her marriage
But will it lead to love?
Miss Lily Wilkins hopes her American money will
compensate for her lack of etiquette, as she needs a prestigious marriage to
save her sisters' prospects. Raised to believe wealth was her greatest
attribute, she's stunned when her unconventional ways catch the eye of the
notorious Duke of Lennox. He's far from the safe, sensible match she'd planned
on -- but Lily might just discover he's the one she needs!
Good book. American Lily is the oldest daughter of a
self-made millionaire and his Southern Belle wife. Mrs. Wilkins is quite
ambitious, and when she receives an invitation from a school friend to bring
her daughters to England for the Season, she can't resist. She immediately sees
her girls finding husbands with titles, cementing her reputation at home.
I liked Lily. She prefers spending time with her books instead
of the social whirl, but she doesn't rebel against her mother's plans. She
knows that if she makes a good marriage, it will help her two younger sisters. She
wants to find love but draws only those men more interested in her fortune than
herself. I ached for Lily because she feels like an outsider in the London
ballrooms, mocked as the daughter of the "Coal King" and looked down
on because of her "trade" background.
I liked Aidan also. As the second son, he never expected
to inherit the title. He spent the last several years traveling the world,
having adventures from Egypt to South America to the American West. But when
his brother died, Aidan returned home to take up duties he felt unprepared for
and a nearly bankrupt estate. The only way out is to marry a woman with a large
dowry, something Aidan is reluctant to do.
I loved the first meeting between Lily and Aidan. She's
hiding behind the plants at the edge of the ballroom, avoiding her mother's
attempts at matchmaking when another reluctant attendee joins her. They chat
for a few minutes, exchanging only first names. I liked the immediate
connection between them and how easily they talked together. When Aidan asks
her to dance, she agrees, and they enjoy their waltz together. Lily's ease
disappears when Aidan is revealed as the Duke of Lennox, and her mother gets
that look in her eye.
I enjoyed watching the development of the relationship
between Lily and Aidan. When together, they find they have much in common, can
talk of almost anything, and soon find themselves dreaming of a future
together. But when they are apart, their insecurities take over, casting doubt
on whether they could make the other happy. When Lily and her family visit
Aidan's home, their emotions go through multiple ups and downs. As Lily sees everything
that a duchess must know and do, she doubts her ability to measure up to the
current duchess. When Aidan looks around his crumbling estate, he feels guilty about
having so little to offer her. There are some sweet scenes of Aidan and Lily
together, from riding to rowing to exploring his home. The long history of his
family fascinates her, and he sees it anew through her eyes. Her warm heart and
ease with people draw him closer when they visit one of the families on his estate.
The more time they spend together, the deeper their
feelings for each other grow, but both are wary of saying anything. Lily can't
tell if Aidan truly cares for her or if he's making the best of things to get
the money he needs for the estate. Aidan keeps quiet because he doesn't feel
worthy of her. I had high hopes during their time in Brighton. With no one
around to tell them otherwise, they could be themselves, and their happiness leaped
off the pages. But on their return home, outside pressures once again threw
obstacles in their path. The ending had me glued to the pages as Aidan's past
nearly ruined his future with Lily. The situation forced them to face their
fears and risk sharing the truth of their feelings. Aidan's emotional plea was just
what Lily needed to share her own feelings. The epilogue was terrific.
I can't wait to read her sisters' stories, though we get
a look at Rose's future at the end of this one.
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