The Book Gourmet

Just as Benjamin Exeter, the scandalous Viscount Rathbone, is returning home from a "visit" to a joyful widow, he spots Miss Prudence Tamhill, the virginal heiress without a single spot on her perfect reputation, standing alone (and drenched) at the exit of Green Park. Despite his reputation he's still a gentleman at the core, so he offers her assistance by escorting her back to her guardian's house...Assistance she seems to not want, hence sparking his curiosity.

He's so curious in fact, he cannot resist a kiss...or several of them, leaving the lady (and himself) in turmoil.

Prudence has no idea what to make of it all. For the past two years he's never paid any attention, now he invites her to dance and steals kisses (and more) in darkened gardens.

When she opens her eyes one night and finds him looming over her bed (only to win a bet by obtaining a ring she always wears), she's incensed, but only until he kisses her again. But their passion is a bit on the loud side and he's discovered.

Of course, her guardian and protocol demand they marry, despite the fact Prudence knows Rathbone doesn't love her. Will she be able to change his mind and philandering ways or is she destined to follow in her mother's footsteps to a love-less marriage?



What a lovely conclusion to the series. I've been waiting for Rathbone's story ever since I picked up the first book (He Said Yes). He is such a charming rascal that despite him being a total man-slut you cannot help but know there's much more under his rakish veneer.
And let me tell you, I wasn't wrong in my presumption. Once Ms. Waddell got to him, he turned out to be a wonderful character, proving once more the fact that rakes make for the best of husbands. It was charming watching him so bewildered by his reaction to Prudence (although in the previous book He Said Now - when Prudence was launched into Society - we could already glimpse that he isn't as indifferent as he would like the world to think). And when he discovered his true feelings for her and hadn't a bloody clue on how to proceed with telling her...Awww.

In comparison to him, Prudence seemed a little bland, despite the author trying to give her a greater purpose with her quest. The quest, which in my opinion offered no further development of her character (we already knew she was stubborn), but added even more depth to Rathbone.

I was hoping for a little more strength in the conflict between them, a little more effort from Prudence's part to make him realize his true feelings. In the end, despite being told many, many, many times by the author that Prudence loved him, Rathbone's feelings for her seemed much stronger, making Prudence's love for him appear only youthful infatuation or (I hate to say this) lust.

The ending (the resolution of Prudence's quest) was absolutely fantastic and almost prophetic if you've read the whole series and loved the interaction between the "lads" and the Duke of Morland as much as I did.

Despite Prudence's lukewarm presence, Rathbone is still a force to be reckoned with, resulting in this book being a definite keeper.