A Dangerous Madness

A Dangerous Madness (2014) Michelle Diener (Regency London)

Set in England in 1819.

Phoebe Hillier has always done everything she was supposed to, following all the rules. But when the man to whom she was betrothed (and her father’s insistence) breaks their engagement, she seemingly has little to lose any more.

Impotent rage, her old friend, ran a familiar hand down her back and she stiffened under its hot, prickly fingers. Why shouldn’t she speak with someone? With whomever she pleased? She was twenty-four years old, responsible, intelligent.

She had all but accepted the anger and the frustration as constant companions, but Sheldrake cutting her free, the incidents of the last day, opened her eyes to how big they had grown, hulking beasts that rubbed up against her. Crowding her and making her life smaller.

The Duke of Wittaker is desperately tired of the part he has been playing. But when the prime minister is assassinated, he is asked to discover what he can.

He needed to remember that there were rules. He had spent so long ignoring them, or deliberately flaunting them, he sometimes forgot there were consequences to those who did not obey.

The story is based on persons and events from the time, but no one truly knows why the prime minister was assassinated–or who (if anyone) was behind it.

Also, this has one of my favorite proposal scenes ever.

He bent his head and rested his forehead on hers. “I just wanted you to know, for me, there is no going back. You have me completely captivated. I have no plan to end our liaison. And I would make it permanent as soon as you give me your answer.”

“I’d take him up on that, luv.”

Phoebe looked up, blinking back the rain, and saw three women hanging out of their windows, mindless of the soaking they were getting, watching them with smiles on their faces.

“He looks like a nob in that fancy coat, even though he’s soaked through an’ all. And he likes to cuddle you close. That’s always a good sign.”

Rating: 8.5/10

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