When Lady Isabella Wharton receives a summons from her godmother, the dowager Duchess of Ormonde, she knows the news won't be good. From her disastrous marriage, to her reckless widowhood, she and the duchess have never seen eye to eye. But this time the old woman has gone too far. Not only is she demanding that Isabella leave town at the height of the season, she wants her to convince the new Duke of Ormonde, who lives in obscurity as a gentleman farmer in the wilds of Yorkshire, to give up his rustication and come to London. Prepared to give the duchess a polite but firm no, Isabella is stunned when the older woman tells her that she knows what she, Georgina Mowbray and the duchess' own daughter-in-law, Perdita, did last summer and she's prepared to tell all if Isabella refuses to perform her task. Since she would do anything to protect their secret, Isabella swallows her bile and packs for Yorkshire. But not before warning Georgina and Perdita that their secret is out.
This is the second book I've read by Manda Collins, and the second time I've easily guessed who was behind the dastardly deeds. Which is no fun for me, really. But at least it provides outside forces to keep the couple in trouble.
Speaking of the couple. Two books isn't enough for a pattern (another one, for sure), but I find it odd that the marriage portion happens somewhere in the middle of the book. I'm always a little leery of these books because I prefer marriage (or proposal of marriage) to be the end point or goal. The "I love you" seems to be it here.
Why Dukes Say I Do is certainly enjoyable, but it doesn't always fully engage my brain. Like realizing after hearing "Lady Wharton" only and no further introductions, Trevor presents her as "Lady Isabella Wharton." It doesn't work like that. I also saw a then/than error and a formatting/punctuation issue. Which was enough to pull me out of the story.
But I liked the sisters (Trevor's and Isabella's) and do plan on picking up more Manda Collins books, especially since I still have time to wait until the next Tessa Dare or Sarah MacLean book.
