"Slightly Dangerous" by Mary Balogh

Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh (2004)

"Slightly Dangerous" is the last book in the "Slightly" series. This book follows the eldest son, Wulfric Bedwyn, the Duke of Bewcastle. The story opens with an introduction to Mrs. Christine Derrick, a widow who is living with her mother and her spinster sister. She is invited to a house party by a friend, Melanie, to balance the horror of having too many men and not enough women. The imbalance had been caused by Melanie's brother Hector inviting a friend - the Duke of Bewcastle. Christine is reluctant to go, but eventually gives in. After an auspicious beginning to her acquaintance with Wulfric, Christine plans to stay in the background of the party, but finds this impossible. As Wulfric finds himself fascinated with her despite himself, a passion develops between them and despite the great differences between them, Wulfric finds it impossible to get her out of his mind...

A plot synopsis does not do this book justice. A completely character-driven story, Wulfric is the perfect romantic hero. Cold, haughty, seemingly emotionless, the Bedwyn in him is drawn to Christine's light and joy. The more he tries to deny his attraction to her, the stronger it becomes. Christine, on the other hand, is clumsy, laughs too much, and does not possess the cool, bored hauteur expected in ladies of the upper classes. She is the antithesis of what a duchess should be. Their love-story, which has similarities to "Pride and Prejudice," is a heart-rendingly poignant blending of two souls. In Wulfric, Christine finds the solid, confident man she did not have in Oscar, and in Christine, Wulfric finds the light and joy that had been missing from his life since the death of his father.

I simply cannot reccomend this book enough.

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