Okay, riddle me this: Regency couple in the background

Jean Wan AAR · Joined: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 383 Location: Toronto, Canada

So I remember reading a Regency series with a couple hovering in the background who caught my eye, but I can't remember the book I read them in or the author. I read the series fairly recently (within the last 5 years), but they could have been published 15 years ago for all I know.

- 99% certain it's a set of linked Regencies - not just Regency-set, but Regency genre - Signet? Fawcett?
- Suspicions of Jo Beverley or Allison Lane, but almost certain not Mary Balogh.
- The couple I'm thinking of hovers in the background of the one or two books in the linked series that I've read. They're aristocrats, he's appears to be older by 7-10 years or so than she; they'd now be in the early and late 30s.
- She's described as plain until she smiles, after which she is very beautiful. She may be a bluestocking.
- There are intimations that he had gambling problems.
- The tone of the books wasn't light like Barbara Metzger.

I gathered that they already had their book, but I can't be certain.

I would love any suggestions, but I know it's not much to go on.

Thanks in advance.
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Jean AAR
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PWNN · Joined: 11 Apr 2010 Posts: 818

Hm, only thing I can think of is Mary Balogh's Sullivan Trilogy - probably not it but putting it out there anyway.

Courting Julia
Dancing With Clara
Tempting Harriet

Freddy Sullivan is is happily married with his plain wife (until she smiles) in the third book. In his book - the second - Dancing With Clara he marries for money (she buys him) and he has a gambling problem (which has also degenerated into a drinking and women problem).
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