ONE FINE DUKE

A staid, upstanding duke disrupts a young woman’s plans to become a spy.

Mina Penny (an allusion to Miss Moneypenny, the most famous woman sidelined in the spy business) was orphaned as a young child and raised by her overprotective Uncle Malcolm, Britain’s most accomplished spymaster. Her parents were Malcolm’s most valuable assets but were killed by the French smuggler and thief Le Triton. Mina has been trapped in a dull, boring life as her uncle’s secretary, desperately learning everything she can about code-breaking, weapons, and spycraft. She craves adventure and is determined to live up to the last words her mother ever spoke to her, “Don’t be a good girl.” Now that she’s in London for her first season, her uncle presents her with a “Duke Dossier” designed to help her land the ton’s most eligible bachelor, Andrew, Duke of Thorndon; however, Mina’s interest in balls and gowns is only a cover for her true goal of finding Le Triton and bringing him to justice. Meanwhile, a threat of blackmail and kidnapping against his family brings Drew to town from his country home in Cornwall. Drew and Mina suspect their individual investigations are related and decide to work together. Their adventures have a delightfully madcap feel, with the pair climbing walls, sneaking through hedges, and searching for clues in hidden rooms. Bell (For the Duke’s Eyes Only, 2018, etc.) writes a pleasingly layered romance about characters caught between societal expectations, family duty, and individual goals. Mina’s desire for a life of adventure is at odds with Drew’s need for safety and security, but their respect for each other is the basis of a true partnership.

A charming romp of a romance.