Firstly, the banter between Diana and Jeremy is impeccable from the beginning. You can feel the heat between them, simmering just beneath their barbed words. Diana found herself an old, agreeable husband to move out of her aunt and uncle's home (having felt her whole life as though she were a burden to them), but her husband soon died after, leaving her with the freedom she had always craved. She is level headed, honest, outspoken, and firm on her beliefs that women are completely mistreated by society. Jeremy, on the other hand, is a womanizer. Jeremy inherited his title, after the unexpected and preventable death of his older brother. He feels as though he is not worthy, having never expected the role and having never had much expected of him. Because of this he believes he has no rights to burden a woman with himself, being a second prize. So, instead he partakes in pleasure from women who are already married or widowed (as he chooses not to follow in his father's footsteps of getting young maids pregnant). He is honest, loyal, caring, and oblivious to his place in society. He does not realize the power he possesses, or the lack of power the women of society are forced to hold. This book talks a lo about a woman's place in Regency England. She is property, she has no ability to live her life freely. Any money she has is her families, and she must be married off, so as not to be a burden to them for life. If she cannot be married, than she is cloistered away with little money or frivolities. The novels highlights of this time has me so angry and sad. As well, it pointed out how completely out of tune aristocratic men are to a woman's situation. How even a poor aristocratic man has more power than the wealthiest woman (yuck)! Even worse, the use of young women in service as sexual playthings for wealthy lords, who then just throw them away. I did wish for more intimate scenes, there was a lot of build up only to end with talking and holding off on the intimacy. Although, this lead to deeper connection and trust between Diana and Jeremy, I think that the same connection could have been achieved with both sexual and emotional intimacy. I really liked the side characters as well. The friends of both Diana and Jeremy care deeply for them and try to steer them toward each other, observing the love between the two. They are honest, endearing, funny and sly. Each of them try to insert themselves into situations to help, which often does not go the right way. But they are doing it out of loyalty and love. This novel does involve stupidity on both Diana and Jeremy's party, but they also work to be honest with one another and to honour the boundaries they set from the beginning of their sexual contract. It only happens that they realize they love each other along the way and are so emotionally stunted they do not know how to express themselves.
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