A Dangerous Madness

A Dangerous Madness (2014) Michelle Diener (Regency London, #3)

Set in London in 1812

“You don’t . . . have the time for it?” Her words seemed to be coming from far, far away.

“No. I’m . . . well, soon I’ll be in a bit of bother, m’dear. Or I think I will. And I’m going to have to make a run for it. I thought I could hold out until I got my hands on your money, but it looks like I was a bit too optimistic.” He gave a sigh.

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.

“Oh.” Phoebe could feel herself gathering speed for a wild, spectacular run for freedom. “Are you mourning the loss of Sheldrake’s life tonight, or the money your son might have inherited if I had already been married to Sheldrake?”

James wasn’t convinced there wasn’t some madness there, though. Could a man be so in the grip of a certain idea, so obsessed with something, that he became mad in that thing alone, but could otherwise behave in a way that looked normal?

But my favorite bit remains the scene in the alley.

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.”

Characters: Miss Phoebe Hillier, Duke James Wittaker, Mrs. Dorothy Patterson, Lewis, Lord Daniel Dervish, Lord Edward Durnham, Lord Jonathan Aldridge, Giselle Barrington, Georges Bisset, Pierre Durand, Jillie Bellows, Banford, Sheldrake, Mr. Jackson, Margie, Mr. Newman, William Jerdan, Vincent Dowling, Harding, Mr. Wilson, James Stephen, Miss Mary Stevens, Lady Halliford, Lord Halliford, Mrs. Wentworth, Sir Harry Combe, Lord Fairbanks, Mr. Taylor, Lord Bartlett, Mrs. Robarts, Sir Vicary Gibbs, John Bellingham, John Vickery, Prince Regent, General Gascoyne

Cover by Croco Designs

Publisher: Gallery Books

Rating: /10

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