A Wager at Midnight - (Betting Against the Duke) by Vanessa Riley (Paperback)

About the Book

"Scarlett Wilcox is willing to live out her life as a spinster if it means being able to continue her medical research to help a friend in need. After all, few husbands would tolerate her dressing as a man to attend lectures at the Royal Academy of Science. If the Duke of Torrance finds her such a specimen, she'll agree to a marriage in name only, much to the dismay of her elder sister, the Viscountess. When she's unmasked at a lecture on ophthalmology, Scarlett prepares to be disgraced, but she's saved by Trinidadian-born physician Stephen Carew who claims her as a cousin. Dedicated to caring for his community, Stephen has no wish to marry a frivolous and privileged lady, no matter how many fall for his disarming accent and seductive charm. But Scarlett proves the opposite of any he's ever met before"--

Book Synopsis

The stakes are high in this dazzling and diverse Regency romance, in which a clever duke has made a wager with the now-widowed Viscountess who is the love of his life: To win a second chance with her, he will find husbands for her two sisters-or resign himself to a life of longing in this enchanting tale from award-winning author Vanessa Riley. Scarlett Wilcox is willing to live out her life as a spinster if it means being able to continue her medical research to help a friend in need. After all, few husbands would tolerate her dressing as a man to attend lectures at the Royal Academy of Science. If the Duke of Torrance finds her such a specimen, she'll agree to a marriage in name only, much to the dismay of her elder sister, the Viscountess. When she's unmasked at a lecture on ophthalmology, Scarlett prepares to be disgraced, but she's saved by Trinidadian-born physician Stephen Carew who claims her as a cousin. Dedicated to caring for his community, Stephen has no wish to marry a frivolous and privileged lady, no matter how many fall for his disarming accent and seductive charm. But Scarlett proves the opposite of any he's ever met before. Yet the pressure to marry blinds them both to the chemistry growing between them, pitting their brilliant minds against their reluctant hearts-as the Duke and Viscountess await with bated breath to see who will win . . . A WAGER AT MIDNIGHT.

Review Quotes

Praise for Vanessa Riley's Historical Romances:

"Riley makes a triumphant return to romance...Riley renders the Regency in living color, with impressive historical detail and an admirably diverse cast. Historical romance readers will be entranced."- Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW for A Gamble at Sunset

"Of course a Bridgerton-inspired novel is on our list of best new books to read this year...A Gamble at Sunset is full of twists and turns." --Brit & Co on A Gamble at Sunset

"A sparkling love story with deep wells of faith and feeling...It's refreshing to read historical romance that reflects the true diversity of the era...A Duke, The Lady, and A Baby is about overcoming trauma, a testament to love forged in adversity--a love that both leaves space for and hastens healing. Riley knows how to spin a yarn built on faith and trust, that lilts along with the gentility and reserve of her characters." --Entertainment Weekly

"Readers on the lookout for Black or disabled characters in historical romance will not want to miss this." --The New York Times on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby

"Smart and witty...Vanessa Riley delivers the perfect historical read." --Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby

"Riley loads her expertly crafted romance with intrigue, droll banter, and steadily building passion." --Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby

"With strong heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and deeply emotional stories, Vanessa Riley is a magnificent voice in historical romance--one not to be missed!" --Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby

"Riveting from the first sentence to the last. Vanessa Riley's lyrical voice shimmers in this emotional, uplifting tour de force." --Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby

"Get your fill of scandal, misunderstandings and a secret society to boot." -- ELLE Canada on An Earl, the Girl, and a Toddler

"Move over, Bridgertons. There's a new set of scandalous aristocrats waiting to take London society by storm." --Library Journal on An Earl, The Girl, and a Toddler

"With brilliant pacing, memorable characters, and witty dialogue, the premise elevated beyond our expectations...portrays Black people in a beautiful way that makes us relatable and takes us out of the stereotypical maid and slave roles." --AAMBC on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby

"Riley's extensive research into people of color during the Regency era adds greatly to the appeal of this page-turning romance. Fans of Shonda Rhimes' adaptation of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton books will devour this series." --Booklist, STARRED REVIEW on An Earl, The Girl, and a Toddler

"Riley dispels the myth of the all-white Regency--people of color rose to the titled elite in this and in many other historical periods--while also refusing to diminish or gloss over an iota of the bigotry and judgment a blackamoor earl would face." --Bookpage on An Earl, The Girl, and a Toddler

About the Author

Vanessa Riley is an award-winning author of historical romance, mystery, and fiction novels featuring realistic multicultural communities and powerful persons of color. To fuel her interest in the Regency and early-Victorian eras, she made time for attending renaissance fairs and consuming period novels and films while obtaining her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and a master's in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford University, as well as a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Penn State University. A frequent speaker at literary, women's, and STEM events, she lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her military husband and teenage kid. Visit her online at VanessaRiley.com.