Major Wyclyff's Campaign (A Lady's Lessons, Book 2)

Near death Major Anthony Wyclyff proposes to Sophia. Not expecting him to survive the fever consuming him, Sophia accepts. Finally free from societies restrictions, when Sophia hears of Anthony's death, she leaves London and returns to Staffordshire to live with her Aunt and pursue her own life as a spinster. However, recovering from his injuries, Anthony pursues Sophia only to discover that the woman he intends to marry has no desire to marry at all and in truth only agreed with the expectation he would die. Unable to except the fact that Sophia doesn't want to get married he starts to woo Sophia in a most unusual courtship. Trying to learn how to serve a lady (remember military man - used to serving no one), he temporarily takes the position of her Aunts butler. Believing that Anthony only wants the perfect wife "the Ice Queen" she portrayed in London, Sophia wants to scare him off and agrees to go on one date if Anthony will stop being her aunt's butler. When he agrees, Sophia decides to have him escort her to a cockfight...not knowing what one is. She does everything she can think of to prove she couldn't and wouldn't be a proper wife!Ms Greyle has written a fanciful tale of how not to court a wife! Anthony needs to learn that to woo, he must flatter. Sophia must discover that not all men are looking for a wife that will simply obey but that some men want a wife that can converse intelligently and be a partner in life. While Anthony acquires a few unlikely allies, I must admit he is a hero that has to grow on you. He is overbearing and arrogant, the reasons Sophia doesn't want to marry him. I think Ms Greyle did a wonderful job with Anthony. He has the gruffness that you would expect him to have and yet as a reader you can visibly see the changes that he makes so he can more appropriately court Sophia. I found Sophia herself amusing in the creativity she displays in trying to get rid of her unwanted suitor. However I also thought she was mean to Anthony, because he continuously wouldn't take "no" for the final answer. She continually resists him even though they obviously have feelings for each other and there is chemistry between them. Of course there are meddling friends as well. It is these friends that pair the couple up in the most unlikely of situations; for example, by going to visit the local crazy man! MAJOR WYCLYFF'S CAMPAIN is just this; a campaign and a historical unlike I've ever read! While there aren't humorous one liners, you can find yourself groaning at Sophia's outrageous plans she always loses control of in the desire to continually thwart Anthony and falls in love with the man. She unknowingly is molding him into - her perfect husband! A great read that I would recommend!