Secluded and snowed in …with the brooding earl!Runaway debutante Henrietta Harvey will never live down the mortification of accidentally slipping into Lord Hauxton’s bed. So, imagine her horror upon discovering they’re snowed in together the next morning! Yet Henrietta comes to find this gruff, cold man has an intriguingly warmer side. Still, hiding a secret that would shock the ton, she’s … ton, she’s resigned to becoming a spinster. Unless she can trust him with the truth, before the snow melts…
From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.
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Very good book. The story opens with two different people making their way through the snow to Hailsham Hall. Thomas, Lord Hauxton, is a friend of the Duke’s, a widower who has suffered many losses over the last several years. He looks forward to the peace of the countryside, away from the society determined to draw him back in. His hosts are not home when Thomas arrives, delayed on their travels by the same storm. It’s late, and he’s cold, so he heads right to bed.
The second person is Henrietta. Henrietta is a woman of good birth who is also a painter. It isn’t just a hobby; it is a calling. Her mother disapproves, so Henrietta has been sneaking out for years to do her painting. On this day, Henrietta’s mother discovered the deception and, in a fit of rage, destroyed the painting that Henrietta spent months working on. Hurt and angry, Henrietta flees to Hailsham. The Duchess is her cousin and best friend, and her haven when she needs one.
Thanks to some confusion among the servants, Henrietta was sent to the same room occupied by Thomas. Their reactions when Henrietta discovered the bed was already occupied were pretty amusing. Henrietta made quite an impression on Thomas, as he did on her. The next morning could have been very awkward, but both Henrietta and Thomas are straightforward people and moved past the night’s events easily. Fate isn’t entirely done with causing awkward situations, and a rambunctious dog and an unexpected bathtub encounter created some more tension. However, the weather ensured that Henrietta and Thomas had ample time to spend together, and they soon formed a cautious friendship.
Both Henrietta and Thomas have made the decision not to marry. Thomas’s many losses made him reluctant to risk caring about someone again. Henrietta is confident that marriage would mean the end of her ability to paint, so she plans to remain a spinster. Neither of them counted on the attraction that sparked between them and the enjoyment they found in each other’s company. I loved Thomas’s vocal support of Henrietta’s painting and his genuine awe of her talent. There are a couple of great scenes with Thomas, Henrietta, and her mother, where he makes that appreciation very clear.
It is easy to see that Thomas and Henrietta’s feelings for each other grow and change. Henrietta soon starts to dream of possibilities, even though she is well aware of his anti-marriage intentions. There was hope in her heart when those feelings seemed to be returned anyway. Her despair was heartwrenching when a close call brought all of Thomas’s fears rushing to the surface and sent him running. I wanted to shake him until his teeth rattled and make him see what he was throwing away. I loved it when he finally saw the light and feared that he had ruined everything. His big moment at the end was an emotional baring of his heart. I loved the epilogue and Thomas’s demonstration of his love and support.
Thomas Milton, Earl of Hauxton had suffered many family losses in his life and was determined not to suffer any more. With this in mind, he decided that marriage was not for him. Henrietta Harvey was a talented artist but was hindered from exhibiting her work due to the fact she was a woman and her mother disapproved of her art. Henrietta, too, has decided not to marry as it was very unlikely that a husband would approve of her continuing with her art. Henrietta was a determined lady. Thomas and Henrietta are forced to spend time together due to the weather. They have an obvious attraction but given their feelings on marriage could anything come of it? This was a little slow in the beginning but the pace of the story increased as more characters came in to play. I did enjoy this entertaining read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thomas Milton, Earl of Hauxton arrives at his best friend’s home late at night having been delayed by snow & is relieved to sink into a soft warm bed but a few hours later he’s awakened by a naked woman climbing into the bed. Runaway debutante Henrietta Harvey will never live down the mortification of accidentally slipping into Lord Hauxton’s bed. A servant’s misunderstanding sent Henrietta to the wrong room. So, imagine their horror upon discovering they’re snowed in together the next morning! Yet Henrietta comes to find this gruff, cold man has an intriguingly warmer side. Still, hiding a secret that would shock the ton, she’s resigned to becoming a spinster. Unless she can trust him with the truth, before the snow melts.
A well written fun, entertaining read with strong characters. Of course Henrietta would have been totally ruined from being alone with Milton . I loved how they grew closer as they spent more time together, whilst there was attraction & chemistry between them they also liked each other & found themselves confiding in each other. I loved how their relationship developed but I wanted to shake Milton until he saw the light, I think I would have made him grovel quite a bit more! It was great to catch up with James & Caroline, I would have like to have known whether Caroline had a spare or a girl & also how Polly recovered
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read