A Gentleman in Waiting by Heidi H. Jex

 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Duke’s Public Mask

In this Regency tale, we meet Collins—a hero so timid he practically hands his heart’s desire to his brother on a silver platter. After Collins admits his feelings for Marianne, his older brother Harris, the Duke of Worthing, decides to claim her for himself. While the 'ton' adores Harris as a witty, gregarious socialite always up for a good time, beneath the polish lies a man who is ruthless, selfish, and utterly devoid of a soul.

The man’s true nature is exposed when he informs Marianne that her dream of opening a girls' school would "besmirch the duchy." Marianne quickly realizes that a lifetime with Harris would be a cold business arrangement at best. However, Harris’s shady business dealings eventually catch up with him, leading to a fatal duel that leaves the duchy in shambles and Marianne and Collins caught in the fallout.

While the plot is a bit thin and the pacing rarely breaks a sweat, the character development carries the weight. Collins’s transition from a man standing in the shadows to a devoted friend waiting for Marianne to truly see him is a slow burn that works. It’s a quiet, character-driven look at the hearts of the nobility—even the ones that aren't particularly worth saving.