Jack of Clubs
“Cap’n Jack” Endicott is the younger brother of Alexander “Ace” Chalfont Endicott, the Earl of Carde. Back from the Peninsular Wars, Jack wishes to strike out on his own, and, ever a gambling man, opens a gaming house in London. But he didn’t bet on prudish schoolteacher Allison Silver landing on his doorstep with his young ward, Harriet, in tow. Can Allison leave Harriet in the hands of a womanizing man? Will Jack convince her that he isn’t really that kind of man, no matter what the papers say? And will Harriet succeed in bringing them together? This is the second in the House of Cards trilogy; the thread which runs through these books appears to be the search for Jack and Ace’s sister, kidnapped as a young girl. It is unfortunate that this thread is very thin indeed, and feels like an afterthought in this part of the trilogy. Characters with gruff exteriors but hearts of gold abound in this light fare, where happy endings and wedding bells for all are never in serious doubt.
