Elegant writing, witty interaction, strong lead characters who've endured much!

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A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby (Rogues and Remarkable Women #1) by Vanessa Riley        
Wow! I just loved this Regency romance! Sterling storyline, with mysterious and humorous twists. Scenes with Busick Strathmore, the Duke of Repington relating with baby Lionel were a joy with real endearing moments. In fact, for me, those scenes almost stole the show.
Widowed West Indian heiress Patience Jordan's ducal husband has committed suicide, her newborn son Lionel has been whisked away by her husband's guardian, the odious Markham, and Markham had Patience committed to Bedlam. With the help of a secret organization, The Widow's Grace, Patience escapes. The Widow's Grace is a 'secret society of avengers, women of all sizes, all shape,' looking to help mistreated women.
We first meet Patience when she's disguised herself as a footman and stolen back into Hamlin Hall just to see her darling baby boy. Unfortunately, at that very moment Busick Strathmore,  her husband's cousin, the Duke of Repington, and Lionel's real guardian arrives at the Hall. Patience has to think quickly, and not loose her nerve to survive this moment without exposure. Patience and Busick's first meeting is so farcical as to be heartily funny. I loved it. This was my other 'almost stole the show' moment.
A bit of trickery played by Lady Shrewsbury, leader of the Widow's Grace, and Patience is inserted back into the Hall as the wet nurse and nanny for Lionel.
Busick is wonderful. He brings his own troopers, mostly injured and disabled men from Napoleonic  battles, to assist him in keeping Lionel and the property safe. He falls in love with young Lionel and plans the baby's regime with military finesse, expecting baby and the nanny/wet nurse to fall in line. That's his second mistake! So? The next might just be his growing attachment to the nanny!
Bubbling underneath the storyline are issues relating to this historical period. Through the medium of story Riley is 'showcasing a sliver of the diversity of the Regency, the treatment of the disabled, and the power structure afforded women.' The Widow's Grace society shines a light on these issues for us as readers, and just maybe a few characters in the series become more enlightened as time goes by.
As Riley's explains in her very informative author's note, the series is
'about women taking control of their destinies and the men who love and support them, and how united they make their worlds better by partnering in grace and joy.'

 A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley

*****

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