Rule's Bride (2010) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

• Rule Dewar: Unrepentant rake, in a "marriage of commerce". The hero of this story, British, in his mid-20s. Married Violet when she was 16 but agreed not to consummate until she was over 18.
• Howard Griffin: Violet's father, the owner of Griffin Manufacturing, a maker of munitions.
• Violet Griffin Dewar: Married off to Rule as a teen, for the sake of the family business; the heroine of this story.
• Caroline Lockhart: Violet's cousin and best friend, the same age as Violet.
• Lucas Barclay: (Luke), Rule's friend from Oxford days; a journalist, lost an arm while serving in the war.
• Travis Greer: Friend to Rule's brother Reese, former lieutenant in the British cavalry, married to Lady Annabelle and father to three children.
• Royal Dewar: Rule's oldest brother, the Duke of Branford; owned a brewery; married to Lily.
• Reese Deward: Rule's brother, older than himself; grows much of the barley used in Roy's brewery, married to Elizabeth (Beth).
• Evelyn Deyer: Lady St. Ives, former mistress to Rule.
• Harriet Ardmore: Violet's aunt.
• Mrs. Cummins: Paid companion who accompanied Violet and Caroline on their sea journey to London.
• Jeffrey Burnett: The man in America that Violet was interested in, 28 years old, an attorney.
• Servants in Rule's home: Hatfield, the butler; Mrs. Digby, the housekeeper; Mary, a chambermaid.
• Agatha: Rule's aunt, the matriarch of his family.
• Lord Wyhurst: An older man, a marquess, married. The ball attended by Violet when she first arrived in London was for his daughter's birthday.
• Benjamin Wyndam: The Earl of Nightingale, the previous owner of the London branch of Griffin Manufacturing. It was called Hawksworth Munitions then. Violet's father purchased it from him.
• Burton Stanfield: A businessman who had expressed interest in buying Griffin Manufacturing.
• Adelaide Lockhart: Caroline's grandmother, lived in the Belgravia section of London.
• Charles Whitney: A second man interested in buying Griffin Manufacturing.
• J. P. Montgomery: From Virginia in America, hoping to help the Southern cause. In a secret association with Jeffrey.
• Edward Packard: Family solicitor representing the Dewars.
• Chase Morgan: An investigator suggested by Royal; a very capable man.
• Simon Pratt: A master chimney sweep who, against the law, hired young children to work for him.
• Billy Robin: An orphan, about 7 years old, working for Simon Pratt.
• Benny Bates: Ran a ring of thieves and hung out at the White Bull Tavern in St. Giles.
• Danny Tuttle: No longer worked for Pratt but had in the past; did odd jobs for Benny Bates.
• The Oarsmen: A group of men who, during college, had rowed sculls in races. They included Jonathan Savage, Quentin Garrett, Sheridan Knowles, Benjamin Wyndam, Dillon St. Michaels and sometimes the Dewars.
• Lady Fremont: Juliana Markham, a recent widow of an old man.
• Peter Auston: Partner with Charles Whitney in a shipping venture that went bad.
• Marcus Wrigby: An Englishman who agreed to be a partner with Montgomery to cloak Montgomery's Southern sympathies.
• Michael Dunnigan: Badly scarred, a friend of Bates who ran the lotteries for him.

Quotes edit see section history

• “If you had wanted a wife, you would have come to retrieve the one you married.”

  Violet to Rule when she'd traveled to England.

• “I helped my father before he died. After he was gone, I decided I was tired of sitting home grieving, so I went to the office and started to work. About the same time, the real Mr. Haskel fell ill and left the company, and I took over his job. I kept my efforts quiet, but I'm sure any number of people knew. They were simply smart enough to keep silent.”

  Violet to Rule when she wanted a job.

• “Most men don't like independent women. So most women are afraid to behave that way.”

  Caroline to Luke on the balcony.

• “We are both survivors, Carrie, you and I. We'll both make the best of what life hands us. That is our nature.”

  Violet to Caroline at the Whitewood soiree.

• “--- Where a great deal of profit is involved, anything is possible.”

  Rule to Violet regarding Burton Stanfield.

• “Sometimes the truth is painful, but in the end it's always better than a lie.”

  Violet to Rule when he'd admittedr the truth.

• “Love is when you can't sleep at night unless the person you love is beside you. When you can't imagine a future without her in your life. It's when you look at your wife and feel your chest go tight. When you secretly thank God that He gave her to you. Love is when you feel sick to your stomach because you have hurt her.”

  Royal to Rule when asked what love is.

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Boston: Where Rule worked for Howard Griffin at Griffin Manufacturing, a munitions company.
• London: After his marriage, Rule lived there and managed the Griffin plant.
• Rule's home in London: #6 Portman Square; a narrow four-story brick building with gabled roof, near a small park. The interior was tasteful, elegantly furnished.
• Home of Marchioness of Wyhurst: Where a birthday ball was held for daughter Sabrina. A palatial mansion, 3 stories built in a U-shape of white marble. The drive was enclosed with a wrought-iron fence. Inside, a magnificent entry was 3-stories tall with a ceiling of amber glass. Wall paintings of columns and pools made it seem like an entrance to a Roman villa. The theme was further carried out with an arched bridge of false stone, gardens and an ocean view.
• Grandmother Lockhart's home: In Belgravia, a large brick structure, well-kept. Neat inside as well, but needed updating.
• Griffin Manufacturing: Near the wharf, a huge brick building with a tower; the sign was below the symbol of a griffin. Inside, there was a service counter; behind it was the secretary's desk and a row of filing cabinets. Rule's private office was spartan and efficient.
• Royal's town mansion: In London, used for when the family came to the city. This was where Lily held a ball for Caroline and Luke.
• Simon Pratt's house: Just off Great Queen Street in St. Giles, a dilapidated 2-story wooden building.
• Dick Whistler's house: Slightly better and in a less run-down neighborhood than Pratt's. In a court off St. John's Street.
• Lady Fremont's house: On a rise overlooking Hyde Park, a lavish, showy mansion that looked more like a castle than a house.
• The Redoubt: A ship J. C. Montgomery was about to depart on. Had a lavishly appointed salon that was paneled in teak and curtained in red velvet.

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by Reese's Bride.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Kat Martin (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

sexual content

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Romance › Authors, A-Z › ( M ) › Martin, Kat
• Books › Romance › Historical
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary