Beautiful Lady Regina Tremaine has turned down so many suitors that she's called La Belle Dame Sans Merci. The truth: she won't marry because she carries a dark secret. She sees no good reason, however, why her brother shouldn't court the lovely Louisa North -- even if the girl's brother, the notorious "Dragon Viscount," objects. Marcus North, Viscount Draker -- bastard son of the Prince of Wales -- is rumoured to be a monster who holds women captive in his dark castle to have his way with them. He has been exiled from polite society for years. But when Lady Regina makes a plea on her brother's behalf, Marcus proposes an outrageous deal: her brother can court Louisa so long as Marcus can court Regina. Can the beauty and the beast survive a proper courtship when the devastatingly improper passion between them threatens to cause the scandal of the century?
Marcus is convinced that Lord Simon Foxmoor is only courting his sister Louisa to get her into Prinny’s clutches, and he is not about to letting that happen! His precious sister will have nothing to do with that debaucher! He may be his father, but that gives him no rights to his sister, or rather, half sister! He is her legal guardian.
But when Lady Regina confronts the Dragon Lord in his own den, to plead to give the two a chance, as they are in love, and when denied they will only meet clandestinely, away from chaperones and such, he gives in. Kind of. Simon can court Louisa, if he can court Regina! Regina really likes Louisa, so she gives in. And strangely enough, she is attracted to the enormous man. He has no manners, he dresses badly, he could really use a haircut and a shave. Can she, the most sought after lady in the ton at the moment, tame the Dragon?
But she won’t marry him, not matter how delightful his kisses and caresses are. He can never know about the fact that she cannot read. How will she ever be a proper wife, a Viscountess, when she cannot do her own correspondence, run a household? Her own cousin and companion and former governess, has always kept her secret, protected her from even her own family, and helps her with everything. She has memorised music and such, so she can sing and play when needed. Regina is determined not to pass along her deficiency to her children. But Marcus wants to marry her, not matter what. And when he does find out, soon after the wedding, he is determined to teach her to read. Her severe headaches don’t sway him, he keeps trying. He just doesn’t believe she cannot learn, she is very clever after all. She is not defected in the brain!
And then Simon tries to abduct Louisa, even when he has promised to wait two more years till she comes of age. And Marcus has no choice but to tell his baby sister the truth, and that Prinny wants to meet her, and use her for his own purposes. Louisa is very upset that Simon has toyed with her affections, and has her own revenge on him.
A good story, nice characters, and I am curious about the third brother. What will happen with him? What woman will bring him on his knees?
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