This is an unusual Regency romance in which the wealthy aristrocratic hero asks the heroine to be his mistress, but the explosive chemistry between then and their growing emotional connection stirs up feelings neither of them knew they had, and they begin to wonder if this might not have to become a more permanent and legal relationship. This funny Victorian romance is about two well-written characters, Felix the Marquess of Wrenworth who is rich and handsome, and Louisa, who is plain and poor. They meet during the London season when Louisa manages to use her connections to get invitations to balls and parties in the hopes of nabbing herself a rich husband. Louisa and Felix immediately begin to engage in a duel of wits every time they meet, and increasingly look forward to seeing each other.
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Felix has never met anyone he had so much in common with. He has had a lonely and emotionally stunted childhood, but doesn't show it. Louisa had a comparably loving home but endless financial strain in her life, but doesn't show it either. They both are interested in scientific research and discoveries, and have the same skill of being very organized and good at managing and planning things. And they are both lively, confident wits, teasing and taunting and playing with each other mercilessly. There is a lot of sexual attraction between them and Felix tries to make Louisa his mistress, which she refuses. So he ends up proposing, and they get married.
However, the attraction that simmers between them is mainly electric, intellectual and sexual - both Louisa and Felix are afraid to admit to deeper feelings due to their long ingrained habits of erecting barriers to protect themselves emotionally. Sexually their marriage is extremely satisfying to begin with, but grows difficult as Felix continues to unable to really emotionally relate Louisa. He becomes more sarcastic and distant as he grows more bewildered with his own growing desire to be intimate with Louisa and to trust her - whereas Louisa wants more, but doesn't trust him either. Felix exerts his power and authority over Louisa both in bed and out of bed but more because he wants to remind himself that he is in control of himself, and not conquered by Louisa. Louisa matches him and doesn't bow down to his authority, the first woman to challenge him so. Though they don't admit it, they need each other, and start to feel lost without the other to depend on. Finally it takes almost losing Louisa to another suitor to make Felix realize how much he has and how much he cares for her. And dabbling with other suitors makes Louisa realizes how much other men fail to understand her the way Felix does, and that she really has found her perfect mate.
Best part of story, including ending:
I liked this story because it has actually intelligent characters and is more an examination of how to make a marriage work.
Best scene in story:
When Louisa organizes the servants and the household just the way she likes it, cleaning up some of the inefficiency that existed before, and Felix is shocked at her independence and initiative.
Opinion about the main character:
I loved both Louisa and Felix, they're well rounded, flawed characters and those are the best kinds.
