Offering number two in the Duke’s Heiress series, HEIRESS IN RED SILK brings us another couple brought together by a deceased duke’s mysterious bequest.   There’s an overarching mystery throughout this series of why the mysterious benefactor duke died.  Was it an accidental fall?  Was he pushed?  The hero is suspected by a number of the characters of doing away with his uncle the duke, and the mystery adds another flavorful element to this historical romance story.

Rosamund Jameson is a struggling shopkeeper, running her own millinery shop.  After a single chance encounter with the Duke of Hollingford, she is named as one of the duke’s beneficiaries, and her sudden fortune upon his death brings her to London to begin life as an heiress.  Not only does she receive a large amount of cash, but she also receives half ownership of a fledgling company owned and run by the duke’s nephew, Kevin Radnor.  One of the tropes used here is Pygmalion. Rosamund definitely shows her lower class upbringing, and there is a halfhearted attempt to show her receiving lessons in elocution, behavior, dancing, etc. 

Kevin wants to buy Rosamund out of her half of his company, but she insists on acting like a true partner, involved in business decisions.  Good for her!  Although I agree with Kevin that running a millinery shop in a small town is not like running a scientific company, but let’s roll with it, shall we?  There is a loose use of an enemies-to-lovers trope too, with Kevin eventually proposing marriage to Rosamund, both to gain control of his company and also to get her into his bed. And did I mention that trope number 3 is InstaLust?

I enjoy seeing glimpses of Minerva and Chase from book one, HEIRESS FOR HIRE.  They are investigative agents, and their skills do come into play somewhat here.  Kevin’s family is farcically horrible, and it’s entertaining to see them try to run Rosamund off even as they accuse Kevin of murder.  Fans of light historical romance may enjoy this easy read.  Hunter’s HEIRESS IN RED SILK advances the cozy mystery while bringing two disparate people together.

Book Summary