Tobias “Thorn” Daultry is the eldest of the Duke of Villiers‘ seven illegitimate children. He spent the first part of his life, before he was rescued and taken in by his powerful father, as a mudlark in the Thames, risking his miserable life on a daily basis to dive for trinkets in the dangerous river currents. As an adult, he has made his own fortune, completely independent of his father, and is looking to settle down. He’s decided that Letitia “Lala” Rainsford is the perfect bride for him. She’s very beautiful and likely to be a kind mother to his children, and her father is in a financial bind, so unlikely to mind that Thorn is a bastard, what with him being obscenely wealthy as well. That’s she’s widely rumoured to be dumb as a box of hair is irrelevant to him, he doesn’t require wits and brains in a wife. Lala’s mother, is his biggest obstacle. She’s a snob and very proud of the fact that she was once an attendant to the queen. To win Miss Rainsford’s hand in marriage, Thorn first has to impress his future mother-in-law.
He buys a large estate outside London, but the previous owner may or may not have used it as a brothel, and he needs someone with impeccable taste and breeding to decorate it for him. His step-mother, Lady Eleanor, recommends Lady Xenobia India St. Clair, who makes a living sorting out the households of others. India’s parents were whatever the 18th Century version of hippies would be, certainly not very responsible, with India often having to barter so they’d get food on the table. After they died, she moved in with her godmother and now, nearly twenty-six years old, she’d like to find a nice, biddable gentleman who wouldn’t mind her controlling the household and finances and settle down.
Sparks obviously fly from the first time Thorn and India meet. She reluctantly agrees to refurbish his entire house. What happens next? Find out on my blog.
I’ve never heard the term plot moppet before but it’s my new favorite catchphrase which I will be dropping conversationally forthwith. And yes usually the presence of young children is a sexual tension killer (these unfortunate moppets turn up in a few Loretta Chase books). But everything else sounds great and Mrs. Julien isn’t the only one who loves a big lug :)
As you can see from the link, the term is not originally mine. I fell in love with it the moment I first read it, because really, it’s such an apt term.
I just like name-dropping Mrs. J into my reviews every so often, I’ll happily link to your reviews too. It’s just that her name was the first that sprang to mind with the big lug thing, as we have discussed her fondness for that hero-type more than once. I tend to prefer the tall, skinny ones, myself, like Cross in One Good Earl Deserves a Lover. Or Tom Hiddleston. Or my husband. ;)
Well of COURSE I adore Tom Hiddleston, because I am alive. I just watched Thor 2 (which is honestly terrible) and his smile even outshines Helmsworth’s ginormous physique.
I thought Thor 2 was a lot more fun than Thor 1, even though it was wonderfully silly, and I’m still sad that they didn’t take the opportunity to Natalie Portman, even if it would have been a bit “Woman in a refrigerator” sort of a situation, which I’m normally very against. I just really hate that woman. So much. I love that they did re-shoots to add more Hiddleston, because he’s such a fan favourite, and such a delightful character. I fancy Tom Hiddleston, sure. His Loki, on the other hand, can reduce me to a non-verbal pile of goo.
You are so nice to give credit for the term. I should do that.
I love being name dropped! It’s true I love a big lug every once in a while.
I work as a teacher. What sort of teacher would I be, if I didn’t show credit where credit is due. Not that most of the kids care one jot if they plagiarise or not. But I do, and so I credit if I can. :)
I did send you this one, didn’t I? I suspect you might like it, the occasional tendency for farce and melodrama notwithstanding.