Trope Round Up: Historical Romance Books Where She Outranks Him

Only The Valet Will Do by Sophie Barnes (2023)

Historical romance. Regency England. Standalone novella. Lady Lilliana has a meet-cute with her brother’s valet in the woods and feels an instant connection with him. Unfortunately, the disparity in their stations means that it won’t work out and she should stay away from him. However, he may be more eligible than he seems. Tristan is part of the landed gentry and considered a gentleman, but his father’s gambling debts have forced him to seek out employment. Hiding his true identity, he becomes a valet to a viscount and meets his sister Lilliana. Tristan has very little to offer with his diminished circumstances, so he also tries to stay away from the lady who has captivated him. But this is a novella, so it all works out pretty quickly and neatly. Enjoyable read if you need a low-angst bit of fluff.

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To Tempt A Scotsman by Victoria Dahl (2010)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Somerhart series. Lady Alexandra has been thoroughly ruined and is hiding away at her duke brother’s estate. She was the cause of a duel of honor that left Collin Blackburn’s brother dead and her lover fleeing the country. Collin has come to seek information on her wayward lover to exact revenge for his brother’s death. Of course, when Collin actually meets Alex, he’s stunned to find that she is not exactly as she was rumored to be. There’s a push and pull of attraction between them and multiple somewhat clandestine meetings. We eventually see Collin go from an upstanding and honorable fellow to an insanely jealous beast of a man. (Seemed like a quick turn of personality there) Oh, and Alex’s past lover is trying to swindle her out of money.

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Her Lessons in Persuasion by Megan Frampton (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian England. Book 1 of the School for Scoundrels series. Bram and Wilhelmina have an awkward first meeting when he thinks he’s rescuing her from jumping off a bridge, but really, she was just trying to have a better look at the stars. It’s all banter and witty remarks between these two throughout the whole book. They meet again when Bram is being auctioned off to escort someone to the opera with funds going to the boys’ orphanage where he grew up. Wilhelmina’s new stepmother is anxious to get her married off, even though Wilhelmina has no interest in marrying at all and would rather focus on being an astronomer. However, she slowly starts to realize that some of the pursuits that she always avoided because they were popular (going to the opera, reading fiction) are actually enjoyable, and she slowly starts to shift her position on these items. As Bram and Wilhelmina spend more time together, he realizes that he’s in love with her, but is unwilling to declare his intentions since he knows that her goal is to never marry. Slow build to a wonderful and open partnership here and a great found family/friend group with Bram and his other orphan friends. Looking forward to seeing the other men of the group find their own stories.

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The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (2007)

Historical romance. Georgian Era England. Book 2 of the Princes Trilogy. Loosely tied to the previous book because Harry is one of Edward’s friends that we see briefly mentioned. We start right away with a carriage accident and Lady Georgina and her land steward Harry are stranded in a rainy downpour on their way to her estate. Georgina is a spinster sister to an earl and owns her estate outright from an inheritance from her aunt. Georgina and Harry don’t know each other well and he’s only worked for her estate for a few months, but on this trip, the attraction between the two begins. As they arrive at her estate, they find that the neighboring lands have found poisoned sheet and they believe that Harry is the cause. He’s got a reason to hold a grudge against the neighboring nobleman, so he’s the prime suspect for foul play. Georgina doesn’t believe that Harry is responsible and helps him investigate. At some point of growing closer, they start an affair, but the social class difference and employer-employee relationship causes tension and angst there. Here’s another book with a few alternate points of view from Georgina’s sister and the dastardly neighbor nobleman.

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The Proposition by Judith Ivory (2010)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Standalone novel. Mick is a gruff and poorly spoken ratcatcher in London and somehow gets chased into a tearoom and part of a bet between two wealthy brothers and an elocution tutor, Lady Edwina. Daughter of a marquess and now living independently, tall and gangly spinster Edwina makes her money by tutoring young ladies speech and refinement. The wealthy men hire her on to clean up ol’ Mick and present him at a duke’s ball as an actual lord. Edwina and Mick are both agreeable so that they can profit in their own ways: Edwina gets paid for her services, and Mick gets a payout at the end if he can pull it off. Despite being terribly attracted to each other, the social class difference keeps Edwina and Mick at a distance for most of the book, plus Edwina’s deep sense of being undesirable. I definitely loved seeing them slowly come together. Plus, there’s a plot twist in the back quarter of the book that I didn’t see coming!

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The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess by Sophie Jordan (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Scandalous Ladies of London series. Miserably married countess Gertrude (Tru) is launching her daughter into the Marriage Mart this year, but her scapegrace estranged husband is willing to sell her off to the highest bidder. A wealthy inn and hotel-owner Jasper is looking to marry a titled and distinguished lady, so entertains the thought of courting the young debutante, until he meets her mother and is drawn to her instead. Loads of drama and the introduction of a female friend group consisting of a miserably married duchess, her courtesan-turned-marchioness stepmother, and Tru’s spinster younger sister, who I’m betting will all have their own books later in the series. This book isn’t too complicated on external plot, just dealing with a prim and proper countess denying her desires and feelings and guilt over wanting her daughter’s suitor. And the villainous husband of hers.

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