Book Tea with a Side of History: Her Night with the Duke by Diana Quincy
Her Night with the Duke is the first novel of The Clandestine Affairs Trilogy by Diana Quincy. If you want steamy passion that morphs into a forbidden romance, this book will not let you down.
Book Tea
Leelah, or Lady Delilah Chambers, is the widow of the former Earl of Devon. She is the child from a shocking love marriage between the daughter of a Levantine businessman and the “Mad Marquess.” Leelah has just returned to England from traveling to reconnect with her mother’s family near Jerusalem and has published a popular travelogue. Since her husband’s death, the new Earl of Devon, her stepson, has tried to oust her from his estate and family, while her stepdaughter, Victoria, still admires Leelah as a sister.
Elliot Townsend is trapped at an inn while waiting for a heavy storm to pass when he sees Leelah being troubled by other patrons. He comes to her rescue, but then discovers she is quite capable of fending for herself. As there are no rooms left, he invites her to take his after agreeing to share dinner together. Their chemistry and draw to one another is like neither has ever experienced and they decide to spend one passionate night. Elliot leaves before she awakes.
Both captivated by the memories of their night together, Elliot and Leelah try to move on, expecting to never see each other again. They are surprised to meet at Devon’s house party in anticipation of a betrothal between Victoria and the Duke of Huntington. Surprise, the Duke is none other than Elliot himself.
Unique Romance Pacing
This book is not a slow burn. With the passion being delivered in the first few chapters, I knew what I was missing as I patiently waited for Elliot and Leelah to get back together. Throughout the rest of the story, there are moments where the main couple would get close again just to pull away. I could not handle the yearning, so I had to read non-stop to reach the final chapter. They belonged together and I could not bear to see them apart.
Culture and Identity
One of the themes explored in this novel is about understanding and reconnecting to one’s culture. Leelah’s mother was determined to have her children be accepted into and identify with the English culture. As a result, she removed their connection to their Arab aunts, uncles, and cousins, worrying that they would be confused. As an adult, Leelah regrets this choice that was made for her, feeling more complete once she gets to know her family both in Manchester and the Levant.
This struggle with cultural identity existed both for Leelah, as a half-Arab, half-English woman growing up in London, as well as her mother, who is fully Arab, but married into an English family. Her mother felt the need to pull away from her Arab culture in order to fit in, while Leelah finds her way back.
This reflection on being multicultural resonated with me, as I am American, but married to an Arab man, live in the Middle East, and have multiracial/multicultural children of my own. I want my children to feel fully at home in their community and be able to socialize with their friends and neighbors. I can empathize with Leelah’s mother for fostering an English identity in her children, since that is where they made their home. However, this book reminded me of the importance for people to understand their roots.
On a less serious note, I found it exciting to discover bits of Arab culture and Arabic language in this book that I had personal experience with. I mean za’atar will make anyone fall in love with Middle Eastern food. The Arabic insults were a treat, and the proverbs were beautifully chosen to elevate the romance of the book. Even the practice of removing body hair added to the sensuality between the MCs.
Forbidden Love, But Not for the Usual Reasons
While this is fully a forbidden love story, I enjoyed that the reason was not the overused difference of class or station. Leelah was a lady, as the dowager Countess of Devon and the Daughter (and Sister) of a Marquees. Regardless, she still had outsider status, because of her mother’s heritage and her father’s decision to marry her.
Instead, their love is forbidden for other challenging reasons. First of all, Elliot and Victoria’s potential match is not secret. It is expected by many people, so going after stepmama would be a big nono. Elliot is very reluctant to attach himself to any whisper of a scandal, due to his brother’s more wild lifestyle. He fears to be a man who follows his desires and loses control, and Leelah makes him want to do just that.
Furthermore, Leelah believes herself to be barren, unable to provide him with an heir. She wants to travel and refuses to give up this dream or her self-sufficiency again. As a widow, she has this freedom.
The long list of reasons why it just wouldn’t work had me biting my nails wondering if they would actually get their happily ever after.
A Side of History: Arab Cotton Trade in Manchester
Her Night with the Duke introduces several Arab and half-Arab characters, some of whom reappear in subsequent books in the series. True to the history, this family comes to England, specifically Manchester, to engage in trade. These Levantine communities did exist.
By the close of the 18th century, four Arab trading houses had been established in Manchester mostly dealing with cotton. The number continued to increase through the next century. These Arab businessmen- and their families- were from Morocco and from modern-day Syria and Lebanon. They brought over customs from their region such as Arab music, games, and food and drink, and use Arabic as a common language.
Unfortunately, these merchants were not well received by English society, as Diana Quincy highlights in her book. As well as being isolated from the English communities, the Moroccan and Levantine merchants also lived separately. They mixed only for business. They faced discrimination and hostility with newspapers promoting racist rhetoric against these traders. Tensions only rose following the stock market crash in 1891 bankrupting many tradesmen.
It was difficult finding information about these Arab trading houses and the community that stemmed from them. Kudos to Diana Quincy for using this little known history to bring diversity to the genre!
Resources
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