I’ve been clamoring for a Castleford book since he showed up in Madeline Hunter's first Rarest Blooms novel, Ravishing in Red (Rarest Blooms Series #1). He’s the dissolute Duke who only rouses himself from inebriation on Tuesdays (he may be bad but he’s not wholly irresponsible.) He's rarely moved to do anything but indulge his baser natures, which might be bad for society but is wholly wonderful for a romance reader!
My prayers have been answered. In Hunter's final installment of this lush and romantic quartet of books, Dangerous in Diamonds, the Duke of Castleford’s curiosity has been piqued by the stunning and steely Daphne Joyes - so much so that he finds himself behaving quite abnormally. But why should I try to tell you the story? Much better to read it from the dissolute Duke himself:
I am Castleford. Make that the Duke of Castleford. I sometimes think I am the last man on earth who lives his life as he chooses. Some call me notorious as a result, but I do not give a damn about that. It is not that I think the rules of society only apply to lesser men. I merely do not accept that they ever apply to me.
I have been no woman’s fool since I was fifteen. I do not pursue women any longer in a quest for pleasure because enough pleasure comes my way without the effort. However, if a woman throws down a gauntlet, if she issues a challenge with herself as the prize, I am not so good that I will not pick up the glove. In the least the contest will for a brief while alleviate the boredom that plagues me.
Daphne Joyes probably thinks that I will lose interest in settling the score that stood when last I saw her. She no doubt has been told by our mutual friends that in a week or so I will return to whoring and drinking and forget she exists. If not for the vagueness that I noticed in her history, and the odd situation that brought us face to face, and her inexplicable rejection of my interest in her, that might have happened. I have seen her other than composed, however, and tasted her passion, and there are mysteries about this woman that beg for explanation. So thoughts about her have been forcing themselves into my mind these last few days. Once I seduce her the intrusive fascination will end, however. Thank goodness.
And I will seduce her, very soon.
Castleford
Many thanks to Madeline for this very special note from Castleford. For more about her, the Duke of Castleford, and the Rarest Blooms, visit her website at www.madelinehunter.com.
Melanie Murray is the moderator of Romantic Reads, BN.com's all-romance, all-the-time community forum.
