ARC Review: The Baron's Dangerous Contract (The Dukes' Pact #4) by Kate Archer
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Series: The Dukes' Pact #4
Author: Kate Archer
Published March 9th 2021 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Goodreads Synopsis
An audacious lady and an adventurous lord.
Miss Penny Darlington, daughter of the famed horseman Lord Mendbridge, has spent the past two seasons happily flirting with Lord Cabot. On the night of the Tudor ball, all of her ideas are crushed. The lord showed her, in no uncertain terms, how inconsequential she really was. She would prefer to nurse her bruised feelings in private, but her father has invited Lord Cabot to stay with them at Newmarket for the races. Penny vows she will never afford the lord another opportunity to sting her.
Lord Cabot well knows he allowed his temper to get the better of him. Miss Darlington left the Tudor Ball in near tears, he was shunned by all who overheard him, and even the hostess glowered at him. He’d not meant what he said and has every expectation that Miss Darlington will laugh it off when she discovers him staying at her house in Newmarket. In any case, he has a far more urgent problem to solve—he’s entered his filly in the thousand guinea stakes and does not actually have the stake.
As Penny and Lord Cabot circle each other warily and various persons work to keep them apart, a shady moneylender enacts a villainous plot. The lord’s world is about to shatter and only Penny can save him from ruin.
On the other hand, she might just allow him to hang himself in a noose of his own making.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
After three of the heirs of the Dukes' Pact have married, Henry Roland, Viscount Cabot, is the next one to face his own love story. For the past two years, even before his father started to meddle in his business, Henry has been spending time with Miss Penny Darlington, discussing horses and generally enjoying their time together, but after he ruthlessly insulted her at a recent ball, both she and the rest of the ton have shunned him. With his allowance cut in half, Henry can't afford to pay the entry free for his filly at Newmarket, so goes to a disreputable moneylender, which sparks a series of events that could be dangerous to both himself, and to Penny's family, whom he is staying with. Will Penny be able to forgive Henry for his actions at the ball, or will her hurt and pain lead to them both being unable to find their happy ending?
As soon as this book became available to request on NetGalley, I immediately jumped at the chance, and started reading as soon as I was approved. I've enjoyed each of the previous books in the series, and have been waiting for Penny and Henry's story ever since we saw their chemistry and connection. We start this book off with the engagement of Lily and Lord Ashworth, which sparks Henry into a bad mood and he insults Penny's knowledge of horses, and acts like he's just been humouring her for the last two seasons. A lot of people heard his insult, and it's left Penny feeling despondent, and a little heartbroken. She knows that it's nearly time to head off to Newmarket for the races, and has a horse in the races too, so can't wait to escape London and the gossip. However, Penny's father, the renowned horseman Lord Mendbridge, announces that he's invited Cabot to stay with them, and she doesn't know how to treat the meetings. I really felt for Penny and her heartbreak here, and loved how her friends, family, and even the servants, tried to protect her from further hurt. Yeah, okay, the servants took it a little far with all of the mischief they were up to with Henry's belongings, and his bedroom, but it showed they cared for the family, and would do anything for their mistress. My favourite had to be Doom, though, who was just a little ball of terror, who didn't appreciate people pandering to him, and wanted to do anything for Miss Darlington.
The plot line surrounding the moneylender, and the way he tried to cause Henry to lose, and be in more debt, was fantastic to read. Yes, I did see how it would be resolved coming a mile off, but I still really enjoyed reading it all, and seeing how the money lender got his comeuppance in the end. The whole matter helped to push Penny and Henry together again, and I felt that the way Henry apologised, and made up for his past actions was perfect for the couple, and think that the way Kitty was introduced, and her interactions with Lord Grayson may be setting up for Grayson's own book. Only two more left in the series, and I'm looking forward to them!
Dates Read:
February 26-27, 2021
Rating
4 Stars
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