A wild pursuit

A wild pursuit, By Eloisa James
Published by , Avon Feb 2002
Grade: A

Back cover reads: It is whispered behind the fans of London's dowagers and in the corners of fashionable ballrooms that scandal follows willfully wild Lady Beatrix Lennox wherever she goes.
Three years before, the debutante created a sensation by being found in a distinctly compromising position. Now, the ton has branded her as unmarriageable, her family has called her a vixen, and Beatrix sees no reason not to go after what -- and who -- she wishes.
And she wants Stephen Fairfax-Lacy, the handsome Earl of Spade. Beatrix, with her brazen suggestions and irresistibly sensuous allure, couldn't be more different from the earl's ideal future bride. Yet Beatrix brings out a wildness in the earl he has tried to deny far too long. Still, he's not about to play love's game by Lady Beatrix's rules. She may be used to being on top in affairs of the heart, but that will soon change.

This is the 3'rd book in the Duchess Quartet series. I went and read the 4'th book first. You can read my review on the 4'th book here.
A wild pursuit is really the story of three couples. There is a sub plot with Helene and her DH (they are the characters in the fourth book)
Esme and Sebastian play a big part as do Bea and Stephen. Bea and Stephen are the ones on the back over, but I found that they got equal book time with Esme and Sebastian.

Bea has been shunned by the ton because she was caught making out with a man at a party. Over the years she has taken a few lovers, and perfected giving sultry looks to men. Stephen in a politician, but he isn't really happy with his job. He attends a house party given by Esme, and plans to get himself a mistress. He thinks he is too old to get married, but he wants a woman to warm his bed. He meets Helene and starts to flirt with her. Helene who has been estranged from her husband for years wants out of her marriage, but the only way to get a divorce is if she cheats on him. She is attracted to Stephen and with help from Esme and Bea, she flirts with Stephen and invites him to her bed chamber.
Once he gets there, things don't work out, and she admits that she is just trying to make her husband grant her a divorce. Stephen agrees to make it look like they are having an affair so that she can get out of her marriage.

Meanwhile, Esme is nine months pregnant. Her husband died after getting into a fight with Sebastian. Esme and Sebastian are in love. The only thing keeping Esme and her love apart is the fact that Esme is trying to be respectable. She begs Sebastian to go away, and finally he leaves.
The thing about Esme, is that her mother is a real problem. She is mean to the bone. Esme tries so hard to please her and wants her mother to accept her, and she will do anything to make that happen.
When Stephen's mother arrives at the house wanting to know where her son is Esme doesn't know what to do. Sebastian's mom and her mom are good friends and she doesn't want anything bad getting back to her mother, so when Sebastian arrives back at the party she announces to the room that she is engaged to Stephen.

Ah, but it just gets better. Bea and Stephen are falling in love, and Stephen asks Bea to woo him. Thats right. Woo him. She does a great game of seduction, but he wants more.

So now poor Stephen is in a house with his fake mistress, his fake fiancee, and the woman he really wants. He has to pay enough attention to the right woman at the right time to make it look real.
Poor guy.

What I liked: It was pretty funny. I like how you don't *have* to read the books in order. Even though I like too. It was neat seeing Helene and her Dh in this book. You got to learn a little bit more about them. I hope to read the first two in this series. It will be a nice treat if Esme is in them too. I like her.

What I did not like: Can't think of a thing.