Widowed Duchess of Dunbarton, Hannah Reid, decides to take a secret lover during the London season. Ton rumors that she has had many during her marriage to her very elderly duke. She has picked Constantine Huxtable. His illegitimacy denied him the title of earl, so he goes after all offered a single bachelor without any cares or ties. He usually picks recent widows for his short-term affairs--till the Duchess. Both understand the rules; but both find it difficult to stop the affair. Both have secrets that each have yet to share with each other or with family members (creating tension in his family). Neither bargain on the chemistry that develops nor on the relationship that finds each telling of their secrets. Mary Balogh handles a myriad of topics not usually included in a hot sensual romance. With style and interest she incorporates developmentally delayed people and their care, seniors long term care, and homosexuality. I enjoy the depth of her characters, the humor she displays, the complexities she brings to her characters, and the interweaving of characters from previous stories.
Fifth and last (sadly) in the Huxtable quintet series.
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