A Debonair Lord and a Dutiful Lady
Charles Bennington IV, Viscount Darden, only son of the Earl of Westmont, is the happy-go-lucky founder of the Young Bucks Club. His club's motto is shenanigans, mayhem, and tomfoolery, and that's exactly what he's been doing as his five sisters made their debuts in Town.
It has been very convenient to have all eyes turned to his sisters. Unfortunately, the last of them has wed, and now he finds those eyes turning in his direction.
He is no fool and knows his sisters have come up with plans and schemes to marry him off, but he doesn't know what they are. Since Miss Mayton is involved, he can assure himself that they are ghastly.
Feeling hunted from every side and suspecting everybody in London is in on the plot, Darden narrows his eyes at every lady he meets.
Lady Marianna Tisdale, eldest daughter of the Duke of Kembleton, has never held the usual views of a first London season. She has heard the ladies of her neighborhood wax on about the glories of the season-the balls, dinners, card parties, routs, musical evenings, the theater, and masques. She is intelligent enough to perceive that those things are just the veneer that pretties up the real reason for a season.
She has a job to do, she is to get herself married. As her father is determined she does not marry below her rank, her choice of gentlemen will be precisely two. The Marquess of Mayfield and the Marquess of Wellerston, both destined to become dukes in the fullness of time. The prospect is about as thrilling as deciding between marmalade or strawberry jam.
When Darden and Lady Marianna meet, sparks fly. Unfortunately, Darden is determined to stay a bachelor and Lady Marianna hopes to honor her father's wishes.
This would be the sort of thing that might be forthrightly straightened out to everybody's satisfaction. However, it has been a longstanding tradition of the Bennington family to take a thing needing straightening out and promptly tie it into Gordian knots.
And then, it seems a certain Miss Eloise Mayton has a long-time-coming Gordian knot of her own to straighten out.
A Very Fine Muddle
Romance Me, Viscount
Be Daring, Duke
Stand With Me, Earl
Sweep Me Up, Baron
Write for Me, Marquess
Convince Me, Viscount
