The reason that so many Regency romances have a Beauty and the Beast theme is obvious: the idea of a virtuous woman rescuing a reclusive, seemingly mean and ugly but actually kind and very hot man from himself, and finding love and riches in the process, is one of the very best fantasies. My smutty novel in progress, Damascus, about a young woman sold into sex slavery to pay off her father's gambling debt, expressly name-checks this theme.
My Darling Duke, by Stacy Reid, follows the trope fairly explicitly. Kitty is a self-sacrificing yet feisty heroine willing to abnegate her own dreams in order to help her younger sisters land rich husbands. Towards that end she pretends she is engaged to hero Alexander in order to raise the social standing of her family. Alexander is a recluse who had acquired horrendous scars and other injuries rescuing his sister from a fire. He demands that Kitty lock herself away in his castle -- er, country estate -- with him until he grows bored. He's actually nice, his servants love him, sparks ensue, etc. etc.
SPOILERS AHEAD
I was intrigued by Alexander's impotence and hoped that Reid would see that through. Could Kitty and Alexander make their future work if Alexander is unable to give her children? Or sexual satisfaction? The book teased this story, and for the middle portion it seemed as if Reid might truly explore these implications. But in the end Alexander was cured by his attraction to Kitty and was able to have PIV sex with her and get her pregnant. In the epilogue they fucked like bunnies.
I reviewed another one of Stacy Reid's books, Her Wicked Marquess, here.
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