Narrated by Mary Jane Wells
His Duchess is the second book in the Roxton Foundation series and takes place approximately nine months after the close of Noble Satyr. The three novellas in this set are vignettes into the domestic lives of Antonia and Renard, Duke and Duchess of Roxton, from their marriage to the time of Midnight Marriage, which spans a period of about twenty years.
When His Duchess begins, the Roxton’s son Julian is about three months old, and Antonia’s nineteenth birthday celebration is approaching. The novella opens with Lucien Valentine sitting with Roxton late in the evening, having just arrived for a visit. Lucien is alone because his wife, Estée, is experiencing sickness due to her pregnancy and cannot travel. Lucien, as much as he loves Estee, seems happy to be away from home while Estée is feeling unwell and not in the best of tempers. The conversation between these old friends gives the reader an insight into the ducal household now that Julian has arrived.
The Duke and Duchess now live in a smaller villa close to Versailles, where Antonia hopes to soon be presented at court. We learn that sleep is at a premium in the house, and to alleviate the impact of sleepless nights on the Duke and Duchess, two wet nurses have been employed to take care of Julian at night. We also find out that Estée has been writing to Antonia almost constantly since she became the Duchess, with unwanted advice and criticisms. This has been stressful for Antonia, and is one of the reasons Roxton has relocated their household away from the Hôtel Roxton for the time being.
For most of the novella we spend time with Antonia as she learns to be a duchess, and watch as Roxton tries to make her birthday perfect. Lucien is there as a foil for some humor, and we get to reconnect with the faithful valet Martin. There is a hint of intrigue involving the Comte du Salvan, but it isn’t played out here. Perhaps there will be more of the story in the following novellas, Her Duke, and Their Graces.
The descriptions are lavish and full of well-researched period details, but while they mostly add to the strong sense of time and place, they occasionally feel overdone. My only other quibble is that both Roxton and Antonia come across as too perfect instead of the sometimes flawed characters of Noble Satyr. This makes some parts of the story overly sentimental for my tastes.
Once again, Mary Jane Wells’s skills as a narrator are on full display. Her male voices are distinct and masculine, and cover a range of dialects and accents. There aren’t many female characters here, but Antonia’s playfulness and her forthright nature are equally well portrayed. Ms. Wells is adept at conveying emotions through her voice, showing when Antonia is tired or unsure, when Roxton is trying to contain his humor, or when Lucien displays his cluelessness. There are quite a few French words and phrases throughout the book and, to my untrained ear, Ms. Well’s fluency with the French language and Antonia’s accent is excellent.
I recommend His Duchess for fans of Noble Satyr and the Roxton Family Saga who will enjoy beautifully narrated and sedately paced behind the scenes look at the Roxton’s life after marriage.
Carrie
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