A Most Unlikely Duke: Diamonds in the Rough
London, 1818. To survive in the slums of London and protect his two sisters, Raphe Matthews has worked on the docks and fought as a bare-knuckle boxer. Little wonder that when he learns he has inherited the dukedom of Huntley, he jumps at the opportunity to escape a life of brutal poverty, despite his scorn for the aristocracy. Gaining their acceptance is another matter, but for his sisters’ sake he tries, and the person from whom he seeks help to teach them ‘proper conduct’ is his very attractive neighbor, Lady Gabriella, daughter of the Earl of Warwick. She, fortunately, is not only kind, but finds him as fascinating as he does her
This is a variant on the story of My Fair Lady, and it offers a scathing criticism of aristocratic superficiality and snobbishness. The progress towards a happy ending, however, is hindered by a crowded series of complications that teeter on the edge of unlikely melodrama and sentimentality. Fortunately, Gabriella is a likeable heroine, who works to balance family duty with concern for those in need of help.
