The American Duchess

I find the older Regencies by Joan Wolf to be far superior to her current ones--doubtlessly written to ensure high sales in the bodice-ripper catagory--although Wolf is never as explicit or sexy as most of her fellow writers...The American Duchess is an old-fashioned story of a marriage undertaken for love of others that developes into a true marriage of equals--Tracy Bodmin, the American heiress, is counted as a rustic unsuited because of her plebian background for her marriage to the almost purple-blooded Duke of Hastings--yet he (and the reader) comes to realize that she is his equal in many qualities and surpasses him in compassion and adaptability.... She marries to please her father and comes to love her husband as well as ---by being totally herself--drawing him--a very worldly veteran of the war against the French and within the ton -- very deeply in love with her... This novel and others in Wolf's early series reminds me in many ways of a shorter, less complex Jane Austin --- and for those who have read Wolf's Edge of Light about King Alfred--Tracy shares many characteristics with Alfred's wife---Elswyth... a book I hesitate to read at times because I am afraid of wearing it out...but thanks to EBAY and people who don't know a gem when they find it, I can probably find another copy...

I read this one ages ago and still read it again occasionally. William Bodmin is dying and like many self made Americans he wished to sell his fortune for a title. Eyeing the crop of eligibles he finds the poor but impressive Duke of Hastings. Tracey Bodmin, realizing that her marrying an aristocrat is her father's dying wish, is willing to do the inevitable.Adrian (the Duke) has a family to care for and an estate to finance so he looks to the current crop of heiresses. Quickly discarding most of the crop, his eye lands on Tracey Bodmin who in addition to having money is lovely and personable boot. So Tracey and Adrian do their duty. . .Duty never felt so good. Tracey, Adrian, and Tracey's father find themselves quite pleased with the results and prepare for a happily ever after. . .only reality intrudes. Tracey's democratic tendencies leave her feeling ill suited for a ton marriage--especially with someone as truly aristocratic as Adrian. Add in a difficult pregnancy and a long lost suitor determined to free her from the strict rules of English society, and Tracey's marriage is poised to fall apart.It's a tale of a totally unsuited couple that find that not only do opposites attract, they can even survive once the honeymoon is over.