A Seditious Affair

A Seditious Affair (2015) KJ Charles (Society of Gentlemen)

Set in London in 1819.

This book dovetails and overlaps with the previous, A Fashionable Indulgence. Dominic Frey is a Tory who works for the Home Office. He also has want and needs that embarrass him, because he has been told that what he wants is wrong.

“The fact is, Richard thinks there is— uh— there is something wrong with me.” Such simple words, so hard to face. “Well, Silas does not, that’s all. And I begin to disagree with Richard myself.”

“I should hope so.”

Silas Mason is a bookseller who writes seditious pamphlets. He is also a decent person who looks out for those for whom he feels responsible.

I like Dom and Silas a lot. Far more than I liked Harry from the previous book. Regardless of what he has been led to believe, Dom is not broken or deviant. His politics come from a place of honor and morality (even if neither Silas nor I rarely agree with him).

“If I may ask, mistress, are you emancipated?”

She gave him a curious look. “Why, sir?”

“Slavery does not exist under English common law.”

Her brows shot up in understandable disbelief.

Dominic hastened to explain. “That was handed down by Lord Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice, fifty years ago. It is a legal absurdity that anyone on British soil should be counted a slave. If you wish to seek freedom, and you need help…?”

Her smile touched her eyes for a moment. “Thank you, sir, but I was born free. Slaves cannot breathe in England.”

“If their lungs receive our air, that moment they are free. They touch our country and their shackles fall,” Dominic completed.

I think that bit there shows that even if the reader may disagree with him on his politics, his morality and ethics are good. And I quite enjoy the arguments between Silas and Dom.

I also very much like Silas being able to see the good in Dom (and the hurt that has been done to him, despite his privilege) and caring for the person underneath.

The other thing I like is that we see the friendships and support between the men–even when they disagree with each other.

This is definitely my favorite book in this series, even if I feel like the solution to the issues is rather weak.

Publisher: Loveswept

Rating: 8/10

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