The Disgraceful Duke

This is a typical Cartland that contains a notorious Duke and a lovely innocent woman, but elements of it were very new and endearing. The gist of the story is: to allow her ill father (Beau Bardsley - a popular actor) a trip to the warmer climate of Italy, Shimona Bardsley agrees to pose as the Duke of Ravenstone's nephew's wife. Alister, the nephew, has married rather badly and is hoping to fool his great uncle so that he is not disinherited. Yvell (the Duke) also wants his nephew to have a measure of independence which the inheritance will allow and is willing to pay an "actress" a great deal of money to pose as a lady of quality. Shimona does not need to act. She is a gracious and lovely young woman that has been protected from the real world in many ways. She was well educated and well read. But can she protect her heart from the disreputable Duke? And when the charade is over, can he forget her? Very nice storyline. Yvell does nothing horrible during the storyline but there are hints at parties and insinuated incidents of bad behavior. There is a twist in which Shimona receives a marriage proposal and not from the Duke! Can she love another? Can the Duke rise above his reputation? In the end you will learn why he was so wild and you come to realize as far apart in station as these two people are, they are soul mates in other ways. Nice, short sweet story.