A young and feisty socialite marries a powerful Duke who traps her in a loveless marriage. Georgiana, a beautiful young aristocrat attracts the most powerful man in Devonshire, the Duke. She and her mother think that she landed the union of a lifetime only to discover that the man she married is cold-hearted, mean, and a womanizer. Georgiana, known across Britain for her beauty and her gregarious fashion-sense becomes the darling of high society, everybody loves her, but her husband. She rekindles her friendship with a young and handsome politician Charles, and is attracted by his fire, and vice versa. Georgiana lives an unpleasant home life, having not produced a male heir. She befriends a woman, Bess, who is abused by her husband. She takes Bess in, but later learns that she and the Duke are sleeping together. The Duke bunks Bess and her two sons in the mansion. Enough is enough for Georgiana, and since she too has feelings for another, she demands "out" of the marriage. The Duke prideful and afraid of tarnishing his reputation refuses, and rapes her. Georgiana becomes pregnant with a boy. She later throws caution to the wind, and starts seeing Charles. When the Duke confronts her and threatens to take away their children, Georgiana returns to him, only she is pregnant with Charles' baby. When she gives birth, the baby is given up to Charles and his family. Georgiana is sentenced to a loveless and miserable life with the Duke, co-existing with his mistress until her death.
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Best part of story, including ending:
I like the Georgian setting and architecture. And the scandals of high society in the olden days.
Best scene in story:
When Georgiana and Charles are out campaigning and Georgiana steals the show.
Opinion about the main character:
Georgiana was just a poor victim of an arranged marriage, which was the norm for nobility.
