A sparkling ride!

An Inconvenient Earl (A Royal Match #4) by Julia London     

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What an untidy, meandering, convoluted, and strangely joyous tale!

Emma Clark’s abusive husband Albert, the Earl of Dearborn had decamped to Africa, leaving Emma to wander Butterhill Hall and manage the estate alone.

Months later a man turns up to give Emma the news Albert has died in Cairo from yellow fever. Said gentleman then promptly has some sort of attack and dies on Emma’s receiving room floor.

Emma’s stunned. What to do? She knows her sister-in-law Adele, will toss Emma out of Butterhill Hall when she learns of Albert’s death, so Emma says nothing. Almost a year is gone when Luke Olivien, the Weslorian Comte ve Marlaine, son of the Duke of Astasia, turns up to deliver Albert’s pocket watch to Emma. Luka is an anthropologist. He’s been travelling with Bedouin tribes studying their migratory habits and trade routes.

Emma does all she can to avoid having Luka tell her that Albert is dead. She ignores him, flees from him, changes the topic. Finally, like Scheherazade, she spins tales to prevent him from telling her.

Luka is fascinated by this charming, free spirit. He enters into this strange game of catch can.

Emma is drawn by Luke’s care, his gorgeousness and kind heart 

The story floats on through the dawdling, halcyon days of summer, enlivened by Emma’s madcap actions, as she frantically tries to bring to fruition all the changes she’s made to the estate. She wants to leave it flourishing for her young brother-in-law and heir, Andrew. 

Emma knows that Adele will want to destroy her changes, sending the estate back to it’s poorer state. To Adele her brother Albert could do no wrong—but he did.

Emma also knows she will be banished from Butterhill Hall, thrown out!

In one crazy moment, Emma decides to throw a house party and ball in honour of Luka. Her last hoorah before the truth is revealed. (I must admit to feeling a pang of dismay for her long suffering and stoic butler, Feeney.)

Will Emma ever acknowledge her husband is dead? And what of Luka who learns that his father has been arrested for treason in Wesloria and that he’s also a suspect.

The foolish bravery of Emma is both troubling and magnificent. The acceptance by Luka of who Emma is, is wonderfully romantic!

A Harlequin Trade ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.