The Truth About Dukes
Series: Rogues to Riches #5
Author: Grace Burrowes
Published November 10th 2020 by Piatkus

Goodreads Synopsis
A new duke and a woman with a secret in her past get a second chance at love in this delightful and charming Regency romance from the New York Times bestselling author of the Windham series.

Robert Rothmere is hiding a past no duke should have endured, but he's not hiding it well enough. Sooner or later, his enemies will learn that he spent years locked away at a private asylum. To get their hands on his wealth, they'll try to send him right back to his worst nightmares. If Robert is to foil their schemes, he needs to marry a perfectly proper, blessedly boring, deadly dull duchess, immediately—and he knows exactly which quietly delightful lady he'd love to entrust with that role.

Lady Constance Wentworth has cultivated a reputation for utter forgettability. She never speaks out of turn (in public), never has a daring thought (that she admits aloud), and never comes close to courting scandal... as far as anybody knows. Her path crossed Robert's years ago, though, and she's never forgotten the extraordinary lengths he traveled to keep her safe when she hadn't a friend in the world. She longs to be his demure duchess...but little does he know that to marry her would be utter madness.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

The rightful Duke of Rothhaven, Robert Rothmere has been hiding behind his younger brother since he escaped the asylum he was placed in as a child. Now ready to regain his position in society, he knows that he needs the support of all those around him, and no one more so than Lady Constance Wentworth, who knows the truth about his history, and could be the perfect duchess by his side. With Constance by his side, and the collective might of the Wentworth and Rothmere families, Robert should be able to overcome anything, but when outside factors start playing their hands, and it seems as if his sheer ability to function will be called into question, Robert needs all the support he can get.

I've binged this entire series recently, and knowing I had a review copy of the fifth book was perfect. We meet Robert for the first time as Master Robbie in A Duke by Any Other Name, and learnt a little about his history. Because of his injuries as a child, and being placed in an asylum by his father for his staring spells, and fits, most of society believe his is dead, and reclaiming his rightful position is not an easy one, at all. It's only his love for his brother, Nathaniel, that is leading him to rejoin society, but knowing Constance is nearby is a saving grace. Unbeknown to the majority of her family, Constance and Robert have a history, when she disappeared in her youth, and worked as a maid at the same asylum that Robert was placed in. Their friendship from that time has blossomed again, as if they were never separated, and both are seeing those feelings develop into something more than just platonic feelings. Constance has a secret, and that secret is one she has never wanted anyone to discover. Having joined the aristocracy late in life, and seeing how Althea was treated by the ton, she has fashioned herself into a wallflower, content to sit on the sidelines, and be forgotten by everyone she meets. Because of this reputation, she would be the perfect Duchess of Rothhaven, but she needs Robert to know the truth. I adored how open and together Robert and Constance were. They are, I think, my favourite couple in this series (at least so far), and their story was awesome. Seeing the period typical responses to Robert's illness was difficult, as was the plotting and gossiping done by those out to hurt the couple, but I was in awe at how Grace manoeuvred the whole plot line, and managed to save the day. Grace has very quickly become a favourite of mine, and I can't wait for Stephen and Abigail's story in How to Catch a Duke.

Dates Read:
December 4-6, 2020

Rating
4 Stars