The Portrait of a Duchess

Peckham joyfully revisits the society-flouting women of Regency England’s Society of Sirens, moving away from the heavy gothic tone of the first installment, The Rakess, to introduce portraitist Cornelia Ludgate. Mixed-race orphan Cornelia was raised as the Duke of Rosemere’s ward until she was compromised at 18 and fled a forced marriage for Italy to build an art career. Only one man knows that her flight was built on an (extremely implausible) Gretna Green elopement—Rafe Goodwood, her white groom, now elevated to Rosemere’s dukedom by a string of Spinal Tap–worthy fatal mischances befalling all other possible heirs. When Rafe knocks on Cornelia’s door after 20 years apart, Cornelia perceives him as an unwelcome reminder of monogamy’s strictures. Moreover, he’s presumably a Tory, embodying everything that radical Cornelia loathes. But he carries news of an inheritance (with strings) and owns a lavish estate perfect for staging Society of Sirens shenanigans. In short, he’s both risk and reward, and Cornelia doesn’t hesitate to grasp opportunity—and its pleasures—with both hands. Her principled glee in demolishing social norms brings a welcome breath of fun to this series, and Rafe’s hidden depths make him a worthy love interest. Readers will be swept away. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary. (Mar.)