Title: First Earl I See
Tonight
The Debutant Diaries 1
Author: Anna Bennett
Release Date: October
30, 2018 (ARC Version)
Published By: St.
Martin’s Press
Category: Historical– Romance
– Regency
Type: Digital –
Paperback – Audio
Blurb:
An heiress with a
daring proposal. An earl who’s determined to resist her. And a love that
just might be written in the stars, in First Earl I See Tonight by Anna
Bennett.
Recently jilted by his fiancée, David Gray,
Earl of Ravenport is not in the market for a wife. Even if
Gray didn’t have his hands full renovating his crumbling country house, it
would take more than a bold marriage proposal from a headstrong young beauty to
thaw his frozen heart. Gray is confident that spending a week at his ramshackle
estate will change her mind about marriage, but every passionate moment he
spends with her tempts him to change his…
A talented artist,
Miss Fiona Hartley desperately needs her dowry money to pay off a blackmailer
set on ruining her sister. The handsome earl seems a sensible choice for a
husband…if only she can convince him that romance will play no part. But
marrying in name only may prove difficult for Fiona. Gray can’t help but be
dazzled by her genuine warmth. Yet as their feelings deepen, Fiona’s deadline
looms. Will her secrets destroy them, or is true love their final destiny?
By reading any further, you are stating that
you are at least 18 years of age.
If you are under the age of 18,
please exit this site.
Favorite Lines:
“You gave yourself to me.
If you think I’m going to let you marry someone else, you must be mad.” ~ Gray
She could hardly wait to
write about her adventure in her journal and was already considering possible
titles for the entry. “A River Tryst”? No. “Wickedness on the Waves”? Eh.
“Ravished on the Rowboat”? Not bad.
~ Fiona
Excerpt:
Until now.
Frowning, she sat at her desk and tickled her chin with the tip of the downy quill she held poised above a blank sheet of stationery. Miss Haywinkle’s School for Girls had neglected to cover the finer points of proposing to an earl. But then, the headmistress had failed to cover any number of topics that might have proven helpful, such as how to walk down the street wearing a ridiculous bonnet without feeling foolish. Or how to properly hit a cricket ball while encumbered by a gown and two petticoats.
And, regrettably, Miss Haywinkle had never offered the lesson Fiona needed the most: how a shy heiress might discern which of her gentlemen suitors was interested in more than her fortune. Alas, the men of Fiona’s acquaintance seemed unable to comprehend that she was a person first and foremost—that she existed wholly independently of her substantial dowry and the vast wealth she stood to one day inherit. Perhaps it was a naïve notion, but she’d always longed to marry a man who genuinely cared for her. Maybe even loved her.
At least now she needn’t bother continuing her fruitless search. The dream of a love match had flown out the window yesterday afternoon—with the arrival of a perfectly ordinary-looking letter in the regular post, addressed to her.
Curious, Fiona had lifted it from the silver salver, admiring the heavy paper and elegant script. But as she’d opened and read it, dread had seeped into her veins.
No one could discover the truth revealed in that letter—not her parents or her dearest friend, Sophie, or the authorities. Most certainly not her younger sister, Lily.
A shiver stole over Fiona’s skin despite the silk shawl draped over her shoulders and the cozy fire burning in her bedchamber’s fireplace. The scoundrel who’d sent the horrid note obviously knew she’d sacrifice anything to protect her sister and was demanding an exorbitant amount of money to keep Lily’s secret. But procuring such a large sum wasn’t easy—even for an heiress.
Papa was out of town and wasn’t expected back for at least a week. Even if time weren’t of the essence, Fiona didn’t dare tell him the shocking news for fear his weak heart would give out. After Papa collapsed in his office last year, his doctor had warned him to avoid undue stress. Fiona had already lost her real mother, and the thought of losing Papa terrified her.
She’d lain awake much of the night, debating what to do, and had reached the only logical conclusion. What she needed was a titled husband—and fast.
The Earl of Ravenport was the perfect candidate. His desperate financial situation was widely rumored, and though he’d once been engaged, his fiancée had called off their marriage a fortnight ago. His lack of fortune and his brooding personality kept most of the matchmaking mamas at bay, which reduced the competition and increased Fiona’s odds of success.
He’d come to mind for one other reason as well—on the most humiliating night of her life, the earl had shown her kindness. She’d tripped on the dance floor and landed among the musicians in the orchestra, sending their sheet music flying. Her dance partner had frozen, aghast. Other guests had snickered.
Only Lord Ravenport had stepped forward and offered his hand, effortlessly pulling her to her feet. Somehow, that simple contact—his large gloved hand enveloping hers—had managed to be simultaneously reassuring and thrilling. The brief encounter had meant a great deal to her, and yet she wasn’t at all certain that the earl knew her name.
The fact that the earl happened to be handsome was immaterial. Entirely irrelevant, really. But if his devil-may-care smile made Fiona’s stomach flutter now and again, she saw no harm in it. She deserved to glean something from the deal after all, and what girl wouldn’t enjoy having a tall, athletic, ruggedly attractive husband—at least in name? It wasn’t as though she intended to give him her heart.
Nevertheless, she’d enjoy sketching him . . . one day. She didn’t yet know him well enough to do him justice. Oh, she could recall his physical traits all too easily: the dark hair that spilled across his forehead, the slightly crooked nose, and the boxer’s physique. But in spite of his self-assured demeanor, he was more guarded than most—reluctant to reveal who he truly was. She, of all people, respected that.
Fiona tapped a fingernail on her gleaming mahogany desk, determined to forge ahead. How, precisely, did one broach the subject of marriage with a relative stranger? Shrugging, she dipped the nib of her quill and let the ink flow.
Dear Lord Ravenport,
We’ve not been formally introduced, but you may remember me from the Millbrook ball, where I tripped during the cotillion and tumbled headfirst into the musicians, knocking the violinist clear off his chair. Would you consider binding yourself to me in matrimony for the rest of your natural life?
A bit too honest, perhaps. And too direct. Miss Haywinkle would be utterly appalled by Fiona’s lack of decorum. Though the thought of shocking her former headmistress cheered her slightly, the letter would never do. Sighing, she tossed it in the dustbin, withdrew a clean sheet from the desk drawer, and began writing anew.
Highlight:
She was not, however, entirely successful.
To be fair, a certain amount of study was necessary if she were to draw him at some point—and she intended to. Her artist’s eye noted the proportions of his hips and thighs, the pronounced contours of his leg muscles, and the slight hollows on the insides of his knees. But as a woman, she noticed him, too—on a whole different level. The heat from his body. The scents of leather and soap. The light stubble on his chin.
Swallowing, she considered moving to the seat opposite him, but they had already soaked the velvet squabs of one bench and she saw no reason to sully the other.
Instead, she resolved to make use of this time to advance her cause. Mustering as much dignity as she could, given her soggy gown and dripping hair, she squared her shoulders and faced the earl. “Now then,” she began. “I believe we were discussing the—”
“Stop,” he ordered.
Fiona attempted a haughty look. “I beg your pardon?”
“I can’t take you seriously in that bonnet. Not while there’s a wet feather dangling in front of your face.”
Of course, Fiona could see the rogue ostrich plume—she’d been doing her best to ignore it. “How gallant of you to mention it,” she said dryly. She pinched the limp feather between her thumb and forefinger and tossed it onto the top of her hat. “There. Satisfied?”
He wrinkled his nose. “Now it looks as though a small, wet rat is napping on the brim.”He flashed a grin so genuine that it momentarily disarmed her.
“Yes, well, I’m certain neither one of us represents the pinnacle of fashion at the moment.”But despite his rumpled cravat and the wet hair slicked back from his face, he did, blast it all. It was hard to imagine him looking more masculine . . . or more attractive.
“I’ll help you remove it.”He reached for the ties at her chin, then froze. “With your permission?”
Fiona’s cheeks heated, but she nodded and loosened the ribbons herself before allowing him to lift the bonnet off her head. A few pins went with the hat, and several long locks of hair fell around her shoulders.
“Much better,” he said, his voice a notch deeper and gruffer than before. He tossed the bonnet onto the seat opposite them and crossed his boots at the ankles. “Now I shall be able to listen properly.”
Suddenly nervous, she swallowed. “I realize that my letter must have caught you off guard, but now that you’ve had some time to adjust to the idea of . . . marrying me, I hope you will at least take a few days to think about my proposal—and give it the same consideration that you’d give any other business proposition.”
“Business proposition,” he repeated, skeptical.
“Yes, my lord,” she choked out. “One that shall be mutually advantageous.”
He leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees. “There’s more to marriage than a signed contract and a handshake, Miss Hartley.”
“I’m well aware of that.” She strove to keep her voice cool. “But it needn’t be overly complicated.”
“I’d argue it’s the most complicated thing on earth.”
Ignoring the heat in his eyes, she said, “How so?”
He lifted her hand from the seat between them and slid closer, till his knee was touching hers. “Will you allow me to demonstrate?”
She swallowed. “Yes. Of course.”
Good heavens. The words were barely out of her mouth before he’d peeled the wet silk gloves off her hands—and stripped off his gloves as well.
First her bonnet, now her gloves . . . she shuddered to think what articles of clothing might go by the wayside next. Shoes? Stockings? Oddly, her belly fluttered at the thought. “What are you doing?”
“I’m proving a point.”He cupped her hand in his and used the rough pad of his thumb to trace slow, languorous circles on her palm. Delicious shivers stole over her skin, curling her toes.
“Do you feel that?” he asked—as if he knew.
“Hmm?”She blinked up at him. “Feel what?”
His heavy-lidded gaze searched her face, lingered a bit too long on her mouth. “Nothing about this is simple.”
“I disagree.”Fiona pretended they were discussing the weather. Or needlework. Anything but the feel of his skin on hers. “It’s only as complicated as we allow it to be.”
“Then let me kiss you.”
“Are you mad?”She snatched her hand away—mostly because it was hard to think clearly while he touched her.
“Very well.”He sighed, feigning defeat. “You may kiss me.”
“What?”She knew what he was about. And she was not some naïve maiden he could trick into doing his bidding. She opened her mouth to protest, then stopped. The earl was attempting to scare her off.
But she didn’t frighten easily. And her sister’s happiness—indeed, her entire future—depended on Fiona’s ability to access her dowry money. Quickly.
“If I kiss you, will you agree to consider marrying me?” She ignored the pounding of her heart as she awaited his reply.
Outside, the rain continued to fall, and rivulets of water streamed down the carriage windows. Thunder boomed in the distance.
“I will,” he said disbelievingly—as though he’d surprised himself with his answer.
Gads. He’d surprised her, too.
“Very good,” Fiona said with significantly more confidence than she felt. But if a kiss was needed to seal their deal, then kiss him she must. She would demonstrate that their relationship did not have to be complicated at all.
She only prayed that she didn’t botch it terribly.
Lord help her, she was about to kiss the earl. And she didn’t dread the prospect nearly as much as she should have.
Gray sat very still, mostly out of a sense of self-preservation. For Miss Hartley obviously had no idea in hell what she was doing. He’d already discerned that she wasn’t the most graceful of creatures. Dancing had not been her forte, and neither, apparently, was seduction.
She coughed, straightened her spine, and flexed her fingers—as though she were preparing to perform on a pianoforte rather than kiss him. Lines of intense concentration creased her forehead as she inched closer and stiffly braced her hands on his shoulders. She stared at his mouth like it was an unpleasant bit of medicine she must ingest for her own good. Or one of Hercules’s labors she must endure.
As her face neared his, she squeezed her eyes shut and stretched her neck forward, bumping her nose into his, not once, but twice. Fragrant hair tickled his cheek. An odd noise—the sort a startled cat makes—escaped her throat. Her soft lips might have brushed against his mouth in the process, but the ordeal was so quick that he couldn’t be sure.
However, he did know two things.
First, what had just transpired was the sorriest excuse for a kiss in the history of man-and womankind.
Second, Miss Hartley was not with child. Because no one who thought that bit of awkwardness qualified as a kiss had ever had a lover. He’d stake his life on it.
Review:
Fiona -
is in a pickle. Recently given an ultimatum in the form of blackmail,
she has limited time in which to decide how to respond to the blackguard.
Considering the sensitive information will ruin her sister, she has little
choice but to concede to the payment demanded. An heiress of fairly new money,
she has several options for advantageous matches she could make. But she wants
to try and choose the best man possible for this unorthodox proposal. Satisfied
she’s chosen wisely, she sets out to seal the deal. Except Gray is not a
willing target. But the spark between them is undeniable and before too long,
her plan to marry for convenience and access to her dowry has her heart on the
line as well. Unwilling to tell Gray the entire truth, she provides as much
information as is comfortable without compromising the damning truth. Problematic, Gray
is now demanding full disclosure despite his continued refusal to marry her.
Fiona has reeled him in up to a point, but he’s still fighting what is plain to
see. If she can’t trust him with her heart, can she really trust him with the
full truth?
David Gray – Earl of Ravenport –
recently jilted. Having absolutely no intention of falling to the charms of
another heartless woman, he refuses to go along with Fiona’s scheme. However,
she convinces him to at least take some time getting to know her prior to
announcing a betrothal. Gray sees this as an opportunity. Since his crumbling
estate sent his previous fiancé running for the hills, it should work wonders
on Fiona. Plan in hand to end this debacle, he arranges a weeklong party at his
home. Despite desperately needing funds to repair said home and holding the
title of Earl that Fiona seeks, all he sees is red flags where the vixen is
concerned. But the more time they spend together, the more she draws him in –
quite literally. She finds beauty in places others never would or could. So
much for the estate ending her scheme. Before too long, Gray has ferreted out
most of the details surrounding Fiona’s rushed desire to marry quickly. But the
blackmailer is most unexpected and just might be the final blow. Can Gray
discover the truth, appropriately deal with the shocking revelation without
compromising the Hartleys, and confront his deep emotions for Fiona without
losing her in the process?
What a charming beginning to this
whimsical series! Fiona comes from new money, her father very recently making
his fortune. As the eldest sister and heiress, Fiona is expected to make an
advantageous, titled match in order to strengthen the family name, which
currently isn’t entirely accepted. The match is desired more by her stepmother
than anyone, but Fiona has no real objection and understands the importance, so
goes along with the expectation. But a blackmailer somehow discovers a dark
family secret which would ruin the chances for not only Fiona’s sister at a
good match but any chance of the family being welcomed into society, wealth
notwithstanding. A talented artist, Fiona is accustomed to deciphering the character
of people and decides on Gray for her husband. Convincing Gray of that, though, will be one
heck of a feat to accomplish. Despite their fierce attraction, he is adamant
that he will be unable to give her the kind of marriage she deserves. Utterly
enchanting! Getting to know Fiona, Gray, and several other family members
was a pleasure. This book not only gives a wonderful story of love breeching
carefully constructed walls of protection but also set up what appears to be a
fantastic series as the stories continue. I was lucky enough to obtain all
three books in the series. While I did not get the first two installments read
prior to release, I will have the third and final book in the series completed
well before release day and I am looking forward to it immensely.
The perfect mix of everything expected
within a beautifully crafted historical romance, Ms. Bennett easily moves
toward recognition as one of the best in HR; at least by my estimation.
Scheming, brooding, whit, passion … its all present and accounted for. For
those of you who are fans of Amelia Grey and the Rakes of St. James series, you'll be sure to enjoy these delightful debutantes. Somewhat similar to the
aforementioned series, yet altogether different, Fiona and Gray will
effectively draw you into their world for a story of love rising above all with
a dash of mystery. Fiona’s sister (Lily), best friend (Sophie) and
Grey’s grandmother were breakthrough characters that added the perfect
combination of insight and levity to this story; although Fiona and Gray have
their own witty, sparring interludes as well. Together, Fiona, Lily, and Sophie
determine that they must keep diaries of all of their advice to their future
daughters based on their own passionate escapades and experiences with love
throughout their seasons. Aptly named the Debutante Diaries, their adventures
begin. While Fiona is definitely gifted as an artist, her entertaining musings
within her diary are provided periodically throughout the book and are nothing
short of divine. Icing to the cake if you will. Being an artist is obviously frowned
upon by the ton as a suitable career, so only family is aware of her sketching hobby.
When Gray sees her talent, even he cannot deny that it is something special and
sets about to bring a bit of recognition of sorts. Ultimately, these two who
were sure they could never create a love match become the perfect pair,
balancing one another out, and falling madly in love. Definitely an HEA here! The
attraction between Fiona and Gray is undeniable and their intimacy is quite
passionate. Let’s just say that Gray is the opposite of selfish as a lover and
Fiona has no issue returning the favor in due time. 😉 I’d also
like to point out that this cover is everything! It shows the spunk and spirit
that make up Fiona and captured the details perfectly: from the ball gown, to
the Fortress in the distance, to the journal on the bench, and the bench
itself. I adore covers that actually represent the stories within!
I was a bit shocked at the revelation of
the blackmailer, although I did have a slight suspicion after a bit of time had
passed. While I wasn’t entirely sure if my suspicion was correct, the identity
of the scoundrel was unexpected in the grand scheme of things. Maybe just a bit
disheartening though since things could have gone a completely different
direction and possibly even provided another book in the series somehow.
However, I was actually happy to see an author take the road less traveled in
this instance even if the identity ended up being somewhat unbelievable. Actually,
I’m a bit hung up on this detail now that I think about it. Yes, I was sure I
had accurately identified the extortionist. But leading up to the reveal lacked
in implicating clues. It was almost as if the author hadn’t fully committed to
the idea of who the criminal would end up being and then just decided it would
be Character X. I’m sure you’ll all see what I mean when you read the book
yourselves. And this would be my only complaint for this book; the lack of
incriminating evidence to support the actions of Character X. No matter the
identity of the blackmailer, this book was engaging from start to finish. I am
thrilled to have discovered another fantastic HR author whom I can rely on for
quality time spent within her work. Ms. Bennett delivers all the feels between
these pages and I cannot wait to continue on this exciting journey with
characters I have come to enjoy immensely. I eagerly anticipate reading what’s in store
for Lily in the subsequent book.
Kindle
version provided by NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest
review.
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