Found: Historical romance I read in 1990s, young heiress arranged marriage to a rake
Original topic subject: Historical romance I read in 1990s, young heiress arranged marriage to a rake
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1ConsciousWidget
The first romance book I read had some memorable plot points, and I've searched all over to find it. Perhaps y'all can help me. I read the book in the mid-90s, but it might have been written in the 80s.
The heiress (Merry?) has been raised by guardians since her parents died. The guardians seek to keep control of her estate by marrying her to someone under their influence. They choose a man (Jack?) who is a known rake, and they pay him to marry Merry and then essentially abandon her so they can keep her under their thumb.
Merry's first introduction to Jack is when she ends up hiding in a wardrobe at an inn. She is hiding in the room where Jack and another woman are about to get steamy before they are interrupted. Later, Merry recognizes Jack when he is introduced as her betrothed. She won't marry him immediately, and the guardians reluctantly give them a couple of weeks to become acquainted. Merry uses the time to try to turn Jack away by being slovenly, though her actions more often work to seduce him.
The arranged marriage happens, but by then Jack likes Merry, and he hangs around a bit longer, though the guardians eventually make him leave. He spends his time back in London reforming himself and regretting leaving her. Merry uses that time to take a more active role in her estate and try to get out from under the control of her guardians.
Eventually, Jack returns, the guardians are dismissed, and the couple reunited. Jack thinks he's not good for Merry, but she's already fallen in love with him. When he tries to leave her to a better future without him, Merry seduces him. During this time, one of the servants, who has always been on Merry's side in the power struggle, ends up accidentally hiding in her wardrobe and witnesses the entire seduction.
The heiress (Merry?) has been raised by guardians since her parents died. The guardians seek to keep control of her estate by marrying her to someone under their influence. They choose a man (Jack?) who is a known rake, and they pay him to marry Merry and then essentially abandon her so they can keep her under their thumb.
Merry's first introduction to Jack is when she ends up hiding in a wardrobe at an inn. She is hiding in the room where Jack and another woman are about to get steamy before they are interrupted. Later, Merry recognizes Jack when he is introduced as her betrothed. She won't marry him immediately, and the guardians reluctantly give them a couple of weeks to become acquainted. Merry uses the time to try to turn Jack away by being slovenly, though her actions more often work to seduce him.
The arranged marriage happens, but by then Jack likes Merry, and he hangs around a bit longer, though the guardians eventually make him leave. He spends his time back in London reforming himself and regretting leaving her. Merry uses that time to take a more active role in her estate and try to get out from under the control of her guardians.
Eventually, Jack returns, the guardians are dismissed, and the couple reunited. Jack thinks he's not good for Merry, but she's already fallen in love with him. When he tries to leave her to a better future without him, Merry seduces him. During this time, one of the servants, who has always been on Merry's side in the power struggle, ends up accidentally hiding in her wardrobe and witnesses the entire seduction.
2vorkosigan
>1 ConsciousWidget: Googling makes me think this might be Caught in the Act
Here's a description: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/766593.Caught_in_the_Act
Here's a description: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/766593.Caught_in_the_Act
3ConsciousWidget
Oh my goodness, this must be it!! You are amazing. Please, can you tell me what you googled to figure this out? I've been searching for ages.
4vorkosigan
>3 ConsciousWidget: Yay! The names didn't work for me (because of the Merrie spelling) so I used "historical romance" "hiding" "wardrobe" and the second hit (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books) had it.
