The tale of Deborah and Max
|
This is one heroine who has been called it all. In the course of this novel, Miss Deborah Grantham is called all this - and more by none other than the irascible Max Ravenscar. No surprise then that the lady almost loathes the man.
It is of no surprise however that Mr Ravenscar bestows such choice encomiums on Deborah as he believes her to be trying to seducing and ensnaring the attentions of his youthful cousin, Adrian, Lord Marblethorpe. And who could resist the charms of this lovely, high-spirited beauty.
Speaking for herself, Miss Grantham doesn't even cherish the thought of receiving any of Adrian's more than flattering offers no matter how tempting as she can see how very unsuitable it was. His innocent youth and the very fact that she ran a successful gambling establishment in St James Square seemed reason enough for her. Although it is a job unbefitting of a sensible young lady, she has no choice for how else are they to rescue an improvident aunt from her crushing debts?
But when the rude, odious Max Ravenscar offers to buy her off - handsomely offering 20,000 pounds not to marry Adrian, the divine Deborah finds herself thoroughly insulted and decides to pay Max back in kind. Dressing as the veriest trollop and displaying the most crass, lowly manners she can adopt, Deborah sets out to totally disgust Max. She even daringly accepts Adrian's proposal in secret - hoping that he will weary of her in time.
Though her behaviour is quite scandalous, some of Max's relatives are charmed by her especially his vivacious younger sister. And though he tries not to, Max finds himself liking the jezebel just a tad too much.
Trying to foil her attempts to ensnare Adrian, Max gets ahold of some of her debts which prompts Miss Grantham's henchmen to hatch a hasty plot. When the mismanaged kidnapping lands Ravenscar in her clutches, he finds that there is much more to Deborah than he thought.
|
|
|
|