Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn

Author: Julia Quinn

Series: Two Dukes of Wyndham

Genre: Historical Romance

Published: October 2009

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Amelia Wiloughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. A mere six months old when the contract was made, she has been waiting for the rest of her life for the actual marriage to take place. She is now 21, old by Victorian England standards, and the Duke has yet to set the date. Thomas Cavendish enjoys the idea of having a fiance, as it keeps the marriage hungry mama's and their daughters away. Mostly. He hardly ever thinks about her though, except when required to attend social functions, where the couple do their obligatory dance to keep up appearances. At one such social function, Amelia suddenly decides that she is tired of waiting, and certainly tired of the Duke. She surprises everyone in attendance by refusing to dance with the Duke. Shocked himself, Thomas volleys back by dancing with her friend. Amelia's little rebellion has finally piqued the interest of her fiance.

 A surprisingly passionate kiss, a drunken encounter and a highway robbery later, Thomas's long lost cousin arrives on the scene. Unfortunately for Thomas, the arrival of this cousin could ultimately mean the loss of his title and his beautiful fiance, whom he has suddenly come to love.

Mr. Cavendish, I Presume is incredibly delightful and witty. Then again, all of Julia Quinn's novels are incredibly delightful and witty. Ms. Quinn constantly has me laughing out loud at the conversations and situations she gets her characters into. In this novel, there is a conversation about cupids that I am still laughing about, a day later. I love Ms. Quinn's spunky heroine's and her proud, handome heros. Amelia is adorable, the kind of girl you want to be friends with and have on your side. Thomas is everything I could hope for in a duke: tall, lordly, with a desire to be treated just as everyone else is.

Ms. Quinn delivers wonderful prose in each of her novels, and every once in awhile I crave her wit and ability to take me on a great adventure to Victorian England. If you haven't already discovered Julia Quinn, please give her a try. Mr. Cavendish, I Presume is a great place to start!