way off... it felt like a masquerade: contemporary characters parading in Victorian costume; I was almost expecting to read that Marissa and Jude were actors in some period play or movie. Good story - Jude is a wonderful hero and his pain at being merely a duke's bastard is palpable. Marissa is rather stupid until she grows up and figures out what she really wants, but I guess without her stupidity and need to grow up there wouldn't be much of a story to tell. However, I have my doubts about Marissa's behaviour and its consequences in the context of Victorian society - her behaviour is really beyond outrageous when seen in that context, and the consequences for her would have bee ...more Good story - Jude is a wonderful hero and his pain at being merely a duke's bastard is palpable. Marissa is rather stupid until she grows up and figures out what she really wants, but I guess without her stupidity and need to grow up there wouldn't be much of a story to tell. However, I have my doubts about Marissa's behaviour and its consequences in the context of Victorian society - her behaviour is really beyond outrageous when seen in that context, and the consequences for her would have been far more severe. (less) Vivacious & flirty heroine can't wait to end her faux engagement to non-handsome bastard son of a duke. He offers to marry her to her family's relief & surprise to hide the