This is the second book in the Splendid Series. I have already read the first book in the series and this book makes Alex Ridgley, the hero in Splendid #1, a not-so-good businessman. He's a Duke and a rich one according to Splendid #1, then why didn't he buy the estate adjacent to his estate that John Blackwood bought? Also, I can't understand why John Blackwood felt so guilty about the rape of the Spanish girl, it's not as if he committed the crime himself. It may be understandable that he feels some guilt for a while after the incident but for him to take years in resolving that issue with himself makes me think that he is nuts.