Mary Royle and her sisters, Anne and Elizabeth, travel to London to stay with their elderly aunt after their father’s
death. They have learned they are the triplet daughters of the Prince Regent and his Catholic wife, but a search of
their Cornwall home was fruitless. Their only proof that they are of royal blood is a leather document box, a few
pieces of foolscap and a key their father left them.
Mary’s pursuit turns toward matrimony when she sets her cap for the newly returned war hero Quinn, the Viscount
Wetherly. Rogan, the Duke of Blackstone and Quinn’s brother, is certain Mary is out to seduce his brother. Determined
to prevent Quinn from falling into her trap, Rogan decides to court Mary himself.
The Royle sisters are summoned to see their guardian, Lord Lotharian, a member of the Old Rakes of Maryleborne,
who relates the details their father told him regarding their true parentage. Unfortunately, Lotharian has no
concrete proof. The sisters also meet Lady Upperton, a diminutive older woman. She promised their father she would
introduce the sisters to London society and has every intention of fulfilling that oath.
When Rogan next meets Mary at a social gathering, he is struck by her beauty and seeming innocence. Though
marriage is not his intention, he can't deny the effect Mary has on his heart. After their first kiss, Mary begins
to wonder if it’s Rogan, and not Quinn, she really wants.
How To Seduce A Duke is an entertaining and delightfully seductive Regency, one sprinkled with humor,
wonderful characters and madcap dialogue. I loved the entire cast of characters, which includes an elderly aunt
and endearing servants. I definitely look forward to the release of Kathryn’s next books centering on Anne and
Elizabeth, and to discovering if the Royle sisters find proof of their true parentage.
How To Seduce A Duke is Kathryn Caskie’s fifth novel and marks her Avon debut.