A proposal from the enigmatic earl
Plain, lame Ellie Lytton isn't destined for marriage. She's perfectly content being her stepbrother's housekeeper… Until the high-handed Earl of Hainford arrives with shocking news -- her stepbrother has been killed!
Ellie believes the earl is responsible for her plight and that he is duty bound to escort her on the journey to her new home. But soon Blake's fighting an unwanted attraction to his argumentative companion… And when she needs protection, he determines he'll keep her safe -- by making Ellie his countess!
Good book. Ellie is fairly content with her life. She's been told often enough that between her plain face and her limp she isn't marriage material. She fills her days being a housekeeper for her stepbrother and writing educational books for children. All that changes when Blake, Earl of Hainford arrives to tell her that her stepbrother is dead.
I enjoyed this first scene with Ellie and Blake. He arrives on her doorstep, bleeding from a bullet wound, and instead of going into hysterics as he expected, Ellie takes charge and insists on treating his wound. Meanwhile, Blake tries desperately to give her the bad news. He's rather surprised by how well she takes it, which adds to his guilty feelings about how her brother died. Those guilty feelings grow stronger when he discovers that her brother lost her inheritance in a stock gamble.
Ellie is practical, intelligent, and honest. She takes what she knows of her circumstances and plans accordingly. She knows that making the long trip to her sole remaining option of a house in Lancashire by herself is a risky proposition. So she takes a chance and informs Blake that it is his responsibility to see her safely there. Blake is surprised by the demand, amused by her reasoning, and finds himself agreeing to escort her and her maid.
I liked Blake. In spite of the circumstances that resulted in her brother's death, he is not the reckless rake he appeared to be. He works hard at his responsibilities and plays hard when he gets the chance. He is haunted by an event in his past that has him keeping his emotions locked up. But he can't deny that he feels a need to protect Ellie.
I enjoyed their trip to her property. Their conversations are fun as Blake is intrigued by a woman so different than the others he knows. Blake also shows an unexpected sensitivity as he realizes that there is more to Ellie's discomfort around men than just being unused to them. This is demonstrated during the carriage accident scene. I ached for Ellie and her panic and appreciated Blake's understanding. His protective feelings for her continue to grow as they reach their destination. But when he sees the condition of the house, he goes a bit overboard in his reaction. This makes Ellie even more determined to stand on her own, and he has no choice but to leave her there. However, he is unable to forget about her and attempts a secret rescue when he finds out her home is in trouble. The confrontation when she discovers the truth is another one where Blake finds himself doing the unexpected and unexplainable - he proposes marriage.
Blake knows he eventually needs to marry. He likes Ellie and can see an acceptable future with her. He has no intention of letting his emotions get involved - his past has shown him that it's a bad idea. Though a bit disdainful of her looks and appeal when they first met, he has begun to see past the surface. Ellie is stunned by the proposal. She can't imagine why he would want her when there are more beautiful and accomplished women available to him. But she is determined to be the best wife she can be while protecting her heart.
I was a little frustrated with Ellie at this point. She was so determined to be the perfect wife that she did things that were unnecessary, such as trying to disguise her limp and hiding her writing. Blake won big points with me with his care for her when he realized what she had done. He was also tender and sensitive when it came to their wedding night and dealing with her fears.
I had high hopes for them as they started their honeymoon. It was obvious that their feelings for each other were growing stronger. There were some wonderfully romantic scenes between them. But Blake was still haunted by his past, and that kept him from recognizing his feelings for Ellie until it was almost too late. I ached for Ellie over what she witnessed and believed. Her feelings were understandable, and I thought the way she gained some extra time to think was pretty clever. I enjoyed the ending as Blake was finally able to let go of the past and embrace a future with Ellie. I also liked that Ellie finally believed that Blake loved her just as she was.
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