Charlotte Deeping needs something to keep her occupied now that she’s back home after her first London season. She misses solving local intrigues with her school friends, but they’ve all gone off and gotten married.

Then Laurence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon, comes for a visit and drops a mystery right into her lap.

When Charlotte’s brother makes her promise not to interrogate the marquess, she agrees.

But that only means she’ll have to find subtler ways to learn about the mysterious marquess and his past. The more time they spend together, the closer Charlotte gets to finding answers and to Laurence.

That is until Charlotte’s digging rouses an old vendetta, and Laurence has to delve into his own history to help the young lady he’s come to love.

Titles in The Duke’s Estates series include — The Duke Who Loved Me —♥— Earl on the Run —♥— Blame It on The Earl —♥— A Gentleman Ought to Know —♥— The Duke’s Best Friend —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

NetGalley ARC

Title:  A Gentleman Ought To Know
Series:  The Duke’s Estates #4
Author:  Jane Ashford
Genre:  Historical Romance
Published:  March 7, 2023
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating:  4 stars

A Gentleman Ought To Know is the fourth title in The Duke’s Estates series, and brings us a fun romance between two people who appear on the surface to be total opposites – but maybe there’s a middle ground for Charlotte and Laurence, only time will tell.

Charlotte’s recent Season wasn’t all she’d hoped it might be.  The men she was introduced to would have bored a tree or shunted her into a life that she has no interest in whatsoever.  She’s made the decision that she’s better off on her own and begins to plan her life as a single woman, a happily single woman devoting herself to the family’s business passion and perhaps solving the occasional mystery now and then.  The very last thing she expected was to be thrown into a brother’s friend’s life or to discover that the Marquess of Glendarvon is surrounded by mystery.  One that she’s quite capable of exploring with or without his wishes on the subject.

Laurence was raised by guardians who may have taught him the way of the world but severely lacked any emotional involvement or understanding.  He’s certainly not accustomed to Charlotte’s way of looking at the world, but she does indeed fascinate him… which surprises him greatly.  He’s lived with the mystery of his parents’ deaths his entire life, but now with one side trip and one piece of jewelry, he’s tossed back into the questions that have never been answered.  When the woman he’s coming to love is placed in danger because of his past, it’s time to solve the mystery and the crime once and for all time… which isn’t the easiest challenge he’s ever faced.

I enjoyed A Gentleman Ought to Know; it’s a well-written, engaging romance with touches of mystery, danger, and a growing attraction that will weave Charlotte and Laurence into a lifelong love.  But it’s going to take a bit of time to reach the happy-ever-after ending.  I liked Charlotte, she’s headstrong, stubborn, and used to going her own way, especially in solving any puzzle that she is presented with.  I loved watching Laurence grow from a stick-in-the-mud to a man beginning to understand emotions and reveling in that knowledge.  They fit together, as opposite as they are on so many things – together, they make up a couple that works for them, and that’s really all that matters to the heart.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

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