Harriet the Duchess of Berrow is in need of a change, an escape from the ton, from the sympathetic faces of those that look upon her as the poor widow.
She wants desperately to get away from what her life has become since the death of her husband.
She decides to go for an extended holiday with her friends Isidore and the Duke of Villiers to the estate of Lord Strange.
The infamous Lord Strange doesn't socialize with the ton, in fact, his home is known for it's wild parties filled with actors, actresses and politicians - about as far away from an evening with the ton as one can get.
While Harriet yearns for a new experience, she isn't willing to throw away her good name, which is why she arrives at the Strange estate in breeches pretending to be the young Harry - an over protected mama's boy, who is woefully ignorant of the ways of wine, women and fun.
While Lord Strange, also a widow, has witnessed all sorts of people and risqué behavior at his home, he finds the emotions he's developing toward the young Harry a bit odd.
All the while, Harriet/Harry is finding herself more liberated being a man, unencumbered from the restrictions imposed on the women of her time.
I'm not usually one for charades.
In fact, I don't really like the whole character mix up thing.
However, this is the exception to the rule.
Ms.
James has created a clever, clever well written romance.
What could have been a farce, instead, delves deep into emotions, viewpoints, desires, and breaks the barriers on the 'should' and 'should nots' in 'proper society'.
The author artfully describes Harriet in such a manner that you're not altogether sure she is a 'young' widow.
She had become dowdy and ready for eternal widowhood.
As the book progresses we get a sense of who our heroine is as she too discovers what she's capable of.
It would have been easy for the author to have the heroine be the sole benefactor of 'growth'.
Instead Ms.
James takes it one step further, allowing several characters to benefit from Harriet's transformation, giving the book rich, emotional layers.
Duchess by Night is Ms.
James at her best, with terrific story telling, and dialogue that is droll, witty and altogether a pleasure to read.
I heartily recommend this book!