Last updated on 05/19/2026
A bold heroine, a scandalous duke, and the world’s ugliest peacock brooch in the most unconventional of courtships…
Lady Josephine Harrington has one task standing between her and the inheritance left by her father: retrieve a peacock brooch from London’s most scandalous duke, Lustful Lavisham. Lost to the duke in a game of cards, Josephine is desperate to retrieve the brooch. She’s already tried polite notes, chance encounters, and a disastrous garden party in which she destroyed a bed of hyacinths.
Lavisham refuses to be polite. She’ll have to steal the brooch.
Marcus Long, the Duke of Lavisham, is a trifle jaded. It’s exhausting being London’s most scandalous duke. But nothing thus far has prepared him for the sight of a glorious, generously formed Valkyrie rifling through his desk drawers. He assumes her to be a courtesan sent to amuse him, but is later intrigued to find that she is Lady Josephine Harrington.
Josephine wants the hideous brooch he won in a game of cards. Marcus disagrees.
He’s having far too much fun.
After all, not every young lady can scale a garden wall dressed as a lad in the dead of night.
Review:
This was really cute! Maybe tied with the previous book ( Curves for the Betrothed Duke ) for series favorite? There’s definitely something to be said for a quick novella that pretty much ignores the existence of all other characters to focus on the relationship of the MCs–embracing their instalove and all the other silliness of their unconventional story, playing everything to the hilt. Josephine and Marcus were delightful, and I’m sorrier than ever that I never got to meet her late father, because he deserves all the credit for bringing them together in such an unusual way.
I’ve only read a few books from this author, but will definitely keep my eye out for more. This was short, sweet, and steamy–perfect read for a summery afternoon!
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
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