One-Eyed Dukes Are Wild

Well Played Megan Frampton, well played.

I’ve read this series from the beginning, and think that this book, One Eyed Dukes Are Wild, is my favorite: I adored Lash and Margaret, as two people who approached their lives and positions in quite different ways, even as they have framed those approaches into rather inflexible boxes.

Margaret is the second daughter, always feeling overlooked by her parents until her usefulness as a marriageable young woman becomes a tool for social enhancement. Unwilling to be bartered and fobbed off, Margaret rather scandalously refused the proposed suitor and announced herself an authoress of a popular serialized fiction. Disowned and in disrepute, she has used her ‘taint’ of scandal to pursue causes and a life that appeals to her, even if it is somewhat lonely.

The Duke of Lasham is an awe-inspiring (or fear-invoking) figure: larger than most with an eye-patch and clipped responses, he takes his responsibilities as Duke very seriously, even as it thusts him into situations that are uncomfortable at best. Raised to the title, Lash’s life is full of the serious business and onus of responsibility of a Duke, and his own desires and happiness are foreign concepts. A bit on the shy side, Lash’s inability to express himself without second-guessing or overthinking is endearing, particularly as he agonizes so.

Frampton has woven several elements together as this story progresses: Lash’s learning to discover his own desires and voice while realizing that fun does, indeed, feed his soul. Margaret’s struggle with her own self-imposed remove from a potential relationship that she feels would subjugate her desires to the whims of a man. Lash’s best (and only friend) and Margaret’s maid Annie who both provide insight and a touch of ‘grounding’ for the pair as well as a story, presumably penned by Margaret of Georgina and the Dragon, a tale that demonstrates the wonders of taking a chance.

You can’t help but love this pair as they slowly discover that the arrangement made for ‘adventuring’ brings far more than simple fun and excitement into their lives. Perfectly suited, with Margaret’s willingness to flout convention (to a point) and Lash’s childlike delight in her and the wonder with which he discovers new feelings and wishes that were previously unimaginable. A few twists and steady pacing kept me in the character’s corners from the start, even with moments that were meant to (from Lash) establish remove and considered interactions. No one is really interfering in their developing connection BUT them, her for believing that she would ruin his standing as a Duke with her scandalous reputation and Lash’s inability to express (and sometimes even know) his own desires and wishes. Of course WE see what he needs (Margaret) and what she can’t do without (Lash) and the connection that doesn’t NEED words is perfectly played and staged.

Well Played Megan Frampton, well played.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.