Desperate Duchesses (2007) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters edit see section history

• Roberta St. Giles: A sheltered woman who longs to marry a peer named Villiers.
• Damon Reeve, Earl of Gryffyn: Jemma's brother
• Jemma, Duchess of Beaumont: Jemma is unhappy in her marriage and has spent the last eight years in Paris. As her husband had a "collapse," she is home to do her duty and produce an heir.
• Leopold Dautry, Duke of Villiers: known for elegant dress and considered the best chess player in England
• Mrs. Grope: Roberta's father's current mistress
• Elijah, Duke of Beaumont: Beaumont has worked hard to establish a reputation in the House of Lords. He fears Jemma will cause scandal.
• Harriet, Duchess of Berrow: Harriet is young, widowed two years, and a friend of Jemma's
• Teddy: Damon's illegitimate, six-year-old son
• Selina: Roberta's father's former mistress
• Brigitte: Roberta's maid
• Lord Corbin: Elegant, assured and far more intelligent than he admits
• Mr. Ransom Cunningham: The Duke of Beaumont's secretary and school friend of Damon.
• Fowle: butler of Beaumont House
• Caro: Jemma's French secretary and partner in scandal.
• Viscount St. Albans: One of Jemma's admirers.
• Marcus St Giles: Marquess of Wharton and Malmesbury; Roberta's father, commonly known as "The Mad Marquess." He writes bad poetry and takes his mistresses to society functions.
• Miss Charlotte Tatlock: A young woman who is interested in and well-informed about politics
• Miss May Tatlock: Charlotte's sister
• Lord Barnaby Reeve: Jemma and Damon's uncle

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Paris, France
• London, England
• Beaumont House, Kensington

First Sentence edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Chess: The game of chess is used to make political and sexual metaphors throughout the book and aids in the double entendre talk of the characters.

Errata edit see section history

While at her first party at Jemma's Roberta is in the ladies' retiring room a description reads, "Hannah gasped. 'Stay away from him!' She punctuated each word with a stabbing motion of his finger." This should read a stabbing motion of her finger.

Just after the duel Roberta is emphatically speaking to Damon when she cries, "You haven't met him before; Roberta told me so!" This should read Jemma told me so.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by An Affair Before Christmas.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Eloisa James (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

explicit sex

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Romance › Historical
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Authors, A-Z › ( J )
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction › Historical

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Eloisa James - Author's Website

More Books Like This edit see section history

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history