Mary Balogh, Slightly Dangerous

Slightly Dangerous

Mary Balogh

Delacorte, Jun 2004, $20.00, 352 pp.

ISBN: 0385338112

Christine Derrick was married to Oscar for seven years, but their happiness together ended when he began accusing her of trysts. Now a widow of two years, Christine never goes to social events for she does not want to run into her in-laws, who for the most think she cuckolded her spouse.

A close friend Lady Melanie Renable forces Christine to attend a two week gala. At the party, Christine is treated with polite contempt by Oscar's family with a few exceptions. Lonely guest Wulfric Bedwyn mourns the death of his mistress of ten years. Following a lemonade incident, he finds himself shockingly attracted to Christine who ignores his ducal title as she just wants to go home to hide in her corner. As they hang together as party outsiders or as much as a duke can remain aloof from others, they fall in love, but there remains the wager that substantiates what her in-laws believe about the capriciousness of Christine.

This is an entertaining Regency romance though the condemnation of her in-laws based on rumor fueled by Oscar seems off kilter. The story line is fun to follow as both the lead characters have reasons to leave. The support cast enhances the tale by how they behave towards the Duke and the fallen woman. Fans will appreciate this delightful tale, but insist that a certain close male friend find his happiness soon.

Harriet Klausner