Do You Want to Start a Scandal (Castles Ever After, #4) by Tessa Dare

Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare
SUMMARY 

On the night of the Parkhurst ball, someone had a scandalous tryst in the library.
• Was it Lord Canby, with the maid, on the divan?
• Or Miss Fairchild, with a rake, against the wall?
• Perhaps the butler did it.

All Charlotte Highwood knows is this: it wasn’t her. But rumors to the contrary are buzzing. Unless she can discover the lovers’ true identity, she’ll be forced to marry Piers Brandon, Lord Granville—the coldest, most arrogantly handsome gentleman she’s ever had the misfortune to embrace. When it comes to emotion, the man hasn’t got a clue.

But as they set about finding the mystery lovers, Piers reveals a few secrets of his own. The oh-so-proper marquess can pick locks, land punches, tease with sly wit... and melt a woman’s knees with a single kiss. The only thing he guards more fiercely than Charlotte’s safety is the truth about his dark past.

Their passion is intense. The danger is real. Soon Charlotte’s feeling torn. Will she risk all to prove her innocence? Or surrender it to a man who’s sworn to never love? 

MY REVIEW 

Charlotte Highwood does not want to get married. She wants to travel. Unfortunately her mother wants to see her married to a wealthy important man. Marquess Piers Brandon aka Lord Granville is an excellent candidate according to her mother, so Charlotte will try to warn him to stay away from her. A misunderstanding will result in the engagement of Charlotte and Piers.

Piers does not mind. He thinks that she is perfect for the heirs that he needs. He does not believe in love anyway. When he gets the heirs, she can do whatever she wants with her life.

“I would like to fall in love.”
He paused, considering. “I suppose that might be open to negotiation. After you’ve given me an heir, of course, and only if you can promise to be discreet.”
She was incredulous. “You’ve mistaken me, my lord. I would like to fall in love with the man I marry. And what’s more, I would like to be loved by him in return. Don’t you want the same when you wed?”
“Quite honestly, no. I don’t.”

Charlotte is furious. She wants freedom. She is still too young. Of course she realises that older men have a certain appeal. It is just Lord Granville is the wrong man.

In her youth, she’d longed for a steady, male presence in her life. An older brother, an uncle . . . even a cousin would do. Just a man who could sweep into the room, with wisdom and command and only her best interests at heart, and say—
Go upstairs and rest, Charlotte. I’ll take care of everything.
“Go upstairs and rest, Charlotte.” Lord Granville rose and crossed the room. “I’ll take care of everything.”
No, no, no.
That was the wrong man.

Oh I loved the way these two are falling in love and are changing the way they see their lives.

What to make of this man? He was proper. He was passionate. He had the public demeanor of an iceberg, but he kissed her as if she were his oasis in a vast, arid desert.
What are you doing to me? he’d whispered.
Charlotte had no idea.
But whatever it was, he was doing it back.

What Charlotte does not know is that lord Granville is not just a simple Marquess. He has many secrets. Special missions. Lethal skills. A hidden second life.

Well, I did not particularly liked Piers when we met him in “Say Yes to the Marquess”. He has left poor Clio alone for so many years to complete his spy missions and she was devoured alive by the ruthless busybodies. 
In this book he is somehow redeemed and he even becomes (dare to say) kind of charming.

Charlotte is an excellent female character. Strong willed, funny, clever, sweet, determined, lovable, ready to fight with a love for mysteries. She will be perfect for cold hearted agent Piers.

There are also some cameo appearances by certain characters from “Say Yes to the Marquess” which I enjoyed. It is nice to know what nice things the future brings to the characters of my favourite books.