Sylvester Cavendish, the Earl of Beaumarsh, has never heard of Little Valentine, and if he had, he would never consider visiting.
The spa town of Little Valentine is a charming and sleepy seaside destination, a place the middle classes retire to and the elderly visit to drink the waters. It is far from fashionable and offers none of the entertainment that Beau considers essential to endure another dull day.
Yet Little Valentine is where the earl finds himself, having escaped an untimely death. Beau is well aware his cousin is the culprit, though just how he administered the poison, he cannot fathom. But he is all that stands between his cousin Edwin and the earldom. Tired of waiting for his wicked relation to drink or debauch himself into an early grave, Edwin has taken matters into his own hands.
Yet he had not reckoned on Kirby, Beau’s devoted valet. The ex-prizefighter hauls his lord and master out of harm’s way to recuperate in a place where no one will think to look for him. Sadly, still suffering the ill effects of his cousin’s toxic attentions, Beau makes an immediate impression upon the community, and especially Miss Clementine Honeywell, by vomiting over her shoes.
Miss Honeywell is the eldest daughter of a kindly, if disorganised, vicar, and well used to taking charge of a situation. The arrival of the notorious Earl of Beaumarsh is certainly a circumstance that needs immediate attention. The fashionable fribble is just idle enough to allow his murderous cousin to poison him, and not lift a finger to stop him from trying again.
Something must be done, and Clementine has the perfect solution to all his problems. Then the earl can go away and continue wasting his life as he pleases.
If only he weren’t so very intriguing, and handsome, and… drat him!