Series: School for Heiresses (Book 5)
"Don't let yourself be fooled, Madeline: once a
rake, always a rake."
-- Mrs. Charlotte Harris, headmistress
When Madeline Prescott took a teaching position at Mrs.
Harris's School for Young Ladies, it was to help restore her father's
reputation. Instead, she's in danger of ruining her own. The devilishly
handsome Anthony Dalton, Viscount Norcourt, has agreed to provide "rake
lessons" to Mrs. Harris's pupils so they can learn how to avoid
unscrupulous gentlemen, and Madeline is to oversee his classes. She has always
believed that attraction is a scientific matter, easily classified and
controlled -- until she's swept into the passionate desire that fiercely burns
between her and Anthony. Nothing could be more illogical than risking
everything for a dalliance with a rake -- even one who's trying to behave
himself. Yet nothing could be more tempting...
Good book about two people with pain and secrets, who are
very different and yet find a way to help each other. Madeline is a relatively
new teacher at Mrs. Harris's school. She applied there after she and her father
left Shropshire under a cloud. Dr. Prescott was a respected doctor until one of
his patients died while he was using the new nitrous oxide during her
treatment. The local baron, a particularly nasty and vicious man, is making
trouble for the doctor and pushing to have him charged with murder. Madeline is
desperate to clear her father's name and is determined to find the scientist who
wrote about the use of nitrous oxide and ask for his help.
Anthony Dalton, Viscount Norcourt, recently inherited the
title when his brother died. His niece's fate, thanks to the lack of a will,
was left up to the courts to decide. There are two claimants for Tessa's care.
First, Anthony's aunt and uncle, who Anthony is desperate to keep away from
Tessa. He still bears the mental and emotional scars of the time he spent with
them and dreads the thought of what they would do to Tessa. Then there is
Anthony, a confirmed bachelor and notorious rake whose flaunting of Society's
rules was a direct result of his treatment at their hands. He feels that
getting Tessa into the right school is his best chance of proving that he has
her best interests at heart. Unfortunately, most of the schools want nothing to
do with him. Appealing to Mrs. Harris is his last chance.
I loved the first meeting between Madeline and Anthony.
She is familiar with his reputation and fears he has ulterior motives. But once
she learns about Tessa, she knows she must help get the girl away from the
baron - the same one who threatens her father. She agrees to help him convince
Mrs. Harris if he will consent to spend the next two weeks teaching classes in 'How
to Avoid Rakes, Rogues, and Fortunehunters". Mrs. Harris is skeptical but
agrees to give him a chance. I loved the back and forth between Madeline and
Anthony as they work through the negotiations. It is immediately apparent that
there are sparks between them.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between
Madeline and Anthony. Both are highly intelligent and have quick wits. Madeline
knows that her attraction to Anthony is trouble waiting to happen, but she
can't stop thinking about him. Anthony is equally attracted and determined to
find a way to get Madeline into his bed without risking his custody battle. The
more time they spend together, the stronger the flames grow. There are some
great scenes of the two of them as their banter fans the fire between them. And
when those flames become explosive, the heat between them is incredible. But
both of them are also hiding secrets. Madeline hasn't told Anthony the truth of
why she has made her demands for fear of his refusal to help. I got quite
frustrated by her reticence as it showed a lack of trust in the man she was
coming to love.
Anthony held on to his own secrets about why he was so
determined to get Tessa away from his relatives. I ached for him as more of his
past was revealed. The cruelty and abuse he suffered as a child still haunts
him. I loved how Madeline pried those secrets out of him and did so with
compassion rather than pity. When Madeline's deception came out, Anthony was
understandably hurt and angry. I liked that, once the initial explosion was
over, he was able to listen and understand. He also realized that if he was
going to be able to help Madeline and save Tessa, he had to face his past
first. I loved the difference it made in him. It also gave him some interesting
ammunition for his final confrontation with his uncle. That confrontation was
immensely satisfying, and I loved the follow-up of the epilogue.
The beginning of each chapter began with correspondence
between Mrs. Harris and her school's benefactor, her "Cousin Michael."
He comes across as a bit of a self-righteous prig, and I enjoyed seeing her
push back when she didn't agree with him. Though Charlotte occasionally seemed judgmental,
her protectiveness toward Madeline was real. I liked that she also came to
believe in Anthony as well.
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