Yet another series where I start at the end. I won't be pursuing the rest of the trilogy. I really liked the initial premise of this book. The resolution of all the plotlines was GREAT!

Some Spoilers

The story begins with the flash to Sir Pickering's will, detailing that since none of his daughters married a duke, he leaves his 15,000 pounds in a trust for which ever grand or great grand-daughter does marry a man in this station. If no one does then it goes to charity.

Enter Sophie, the clumsy, bookish, plain, tall, plainly spoken final girl in the family and Graham, the 4th son of a Duke, a charming handsome rogueish wastrel who has spent his life separating himself from his hunting, louts of a father and brothers. Sophie and Graham have developed an honest friendship, mainly when Graham is too bored with the Ton and he returns to spend fresh time with Sophie. Then Graham's father and 3 brothers are killed by a maddened bull elephant (I kid you not) and Graham is suddenly elevated to His Grace. His family has also run through all of their money, borrowed from the wrong people and let the estate and its grounds and people to fall into extreme disrepair. Thus Graham has to find a rich wife and soon. All good to this point.

Sophie sets her cap at Graham upon realizing he's casting her aside as not rich. With help from Lementeur, the modiste who makes people, she transforms the clutz into a graceful lady of mystery. Enter the wastrel solicitor who wants to steal the money, a Machiavellian aunt, a false identity, an attempted kidnapping/elopment, and more devious subplots than a whole trilogy would need.

In the end, the subplots really detracted from what could be a simple ugly duckling or Cinderella story. Three stars since the end tied everything up so nicely, but my irritation with Wolfe really almost ruined that.