Books › A Very Dutiful Daughter
A Very Dutiful Daughter
First published 1979 · 249 pages
A charming, traditional Regency romp where a single stolen kiss sparks a quiet rebellion against a marriage of convenience.
What it feels like
Reading this traditional Regency romance feels like stepping into a cozy, sunlit drawing room where witty banter and hidden passions simmer just beneath the surface of polite society. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, driven by a delightful comedy of errors and the heroine's quiet refusal to settle for a lukewarm marriage. Mansfield's prose is light, playful, and steeped in the classic sensibilities of the era, making it a comforting read for those who appreciate the delicate dance of courtship. The mood is breezy yet romantic, anchored by the emotional tension of a heroine holding out for the fiery connection she knows her suitor is capable of. It is a perfect, charming escape for readers who adore Georgette Heyer and love watching a dutiful wallflower finally demand the passion she deserves.
- Mood
- cozy
- charming
- breezy
- Tone
- wry
- lighthearted
- romantic
- playful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- hidden passions · mistaken identity · duty vs. desire · second chances at first impressions
- The writing
- Classic, witty, and dialogue-driven, with a gentle nod to traditional Regency sensibilities.
- The arc
- From quiet resignation and hidden longing to the joyful realization of mutual, passionate love.
- Who it's for
- Fans of traditional, sweet-but-spirited Regency romances who love a good misunderstanding and a heroine with hidden depths.
Content notes
- infidelity (hero has a mistress)
About the book
He mistakes her for his mistress and kisses her passionately. Since he is masked, his identity is concealed. Mistress arrives on scene, He realizes his mistake, feels terrible, and then forgets about the incident.
Fast forward one year, to the present, H offers for the dull but dutiful h, and she turns him down. Upon which, the H goes to soothe his ego with the same mistress (Mrs. Kitty Brownell). And the reason h turned him down? She wants the 'passionate' Lord Denham and not the bored/boring, uninterested one that's been halfheartedly courting her.
Description from Open Library.
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