Desperate Duchesses - Tapa dura

'So full of dashing cads in breeches that it's guaranteed to get me hot under the collar ... Bravo for Eloisa' -- Fiona Walker on Much Ado About Nothing 'Romance writing does not get much better than this.' -- People Magazine on Eloisa James 'I found myself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar' -- USA Today on Eloisa James 'Great fun. I couldn't put it down!' -- Daisy Waugh on Much Ado About Nothing 'Hurrah! Romance is back in fashion. No grisly body count, no lurking serial killer. The only four-letter word is love. Choc-full of romantic heroes that would give Darcy a run for his money. Sheer joy from beginning to end.' -- Carole Matthews on Much Ado About You 'If Shakespeare had written an 18th-century romantic comedy, it might look something like this ... colourful, spirited romance that will leave readers desperate for a sequel' -- Publishers Weekly

Spring 1783 ...Jemma, Duchess of Beaumont, has just returned from Paris and is planning to shock all of London High Society -- not to mention horrify her husband -- with scandalous soirees and a debauched Grand Ball. But irritating her husband comes naturally, and she needs a challenge. When her country cousin Lady Roberta St. Giles asks for help seducing the Duke of Villiers into marriage, Jemma jumps at the chance. She transforms Roberta into the most delicious and desirable woman in town. Then she lures Villiers to the house, ostensibly to play chess. But the plan backfires. Villiers responds enthusiastically to Jemma's challenge and, ignoring her husband, offers her a match -- the third game of which is to be played blindfolded. And in bed. Let the games begin ...