To Wed a Shadow Duke by Julia Thorne

 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Wall of Red Tape and a Self-Imposed Shadow

The Hartwell family faces a grim reality after the vicar's death: four hundred pounds of debt and an impending eviction. The Duke of Greystone offers Julia a lifeline with a position managing his correspondence and charities, but he quickly becomes his own worst enemy. Threatened by her competence, he installs layers of red tape that stall even urgent village matters.

His behavior only worsens after a personal confession, as he hides behind new procedures to avoid Julia entirely. When local gossip puts her reputation at risk, his solution is to ship her off to another job, inadvertently leaving her family vulnerable to the streets.

The Duke is a man living in a self-imposed fortress, making arbitrary rules to protect a fragile heart. Julia, by contrast, is a pillar of efficiency and bravery. She handles every crisis without flinching, which is clearly why the Duke falls for her. It is less clear, however, why Julia returns the sentiment. He was consistently ghastly to her and went out of his way to make her professional life a logistical nightmare. It’s a compelling story, even if the hero is a bit of a shadow.