Sparkling!

A Wager at Midnight (Betting against the Duke #2) by Vanessa Riley      

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There’s a certain cadence of prose running through Riley’s novels about the Duke of Torrance and his wards, the Wilcox ladies. I really enjoyed this title in the “Betting” series.

Scarlett Wilcox had made a bargain with the Duke. He could choose a husband for her.

Scarlett’s greatest desire is to research medical science in particular the eye, in order to understand the cataracts that beset a favorite companion.

To attend medical lectures she must disguise herself as a man. She presents herself as Scotland Wilcox. This leads to some problems when taken up by a group of medical men, whisked off to White’s and thence to a brothel!

Scarlett wants to know more about Dr. Carew. Is he brave enough for her? Her time with him disguised as Scotland was interesting. Carew (who’s recently been jilted) is thinking of Scarlett as wife material, but will he take her scientific desires seriously?

There’s a deeply held secret about the Duke and Katherine that comes to light.

Also, will Carew be accepted by his community (those from Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados) as a serous medical practitioner. His  aunties seem to want to marry him off, but deny him recognition as a medical man.

There’s so many ends being plaited and re-plaited here, all bringing a certain frisson and energy to the tale.

Wonderful!

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.