HIS OUTRAGEOUS PROPOSAL By Tracy Cooper-Posey

Scandalous Family—The Victorians, Book 4.0

Victorian Era Historical Romance

More books by Tracy Cooper-Posey
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Alice loves her family, but longs for independence…

Lady Alice Thomasina Balfour is the acknowledged daughter of Dane, Duke of Wakefield, but her real father is Benjamin Hedley, her mother’s secret and lifelong partner. Her third father is Stephen Spearing, Esq., who is Dane’s secret partner. Alice is torn between her beloved family and their expectations and her need for the independence young, modern women are beginning to enjoy, which she believes she can have if she opens her own shop. She needs funds to do so, but as a woman, cannot take a loan with any bank. Her family for once, are not supportive.

Garrick Lawrence Wortham is not a peer, but thanks to his family’s fortune and upper-class status, he is expected to marry into the peerage and solidify the family’s reputation. After refusing yet another debutante, Garrick feels obliged to bow to his father’s wishes to fund and manage a new, shocking project; the opening of a retail establishment by the daughter of the Duke of Wakefield, a peer whose family have fallen into disgrace and social ruin. But managing the willful woman’s new business venture is more taxing than he expected. It doesn’t help that the lovely Lady Alice is prickly, defensive and hiding secrets that, as he learns more, brings him to make an outrageous proposal…

This book is part of the Scandalous Family—The Victorians series. This is the second spin-off series to feature a new generation of the Great Family, who are now scattering across Europe and beyond in search of adventure…and love.

This story is part of the Scandalous Family—The Victorians series:
1.0 His Parisian Mistress
2.0 Her Rebellious Prince
3.0 Their Foreign Affair
4.0 His Outrageous Proposal
and more to come!
A Victorian Era Historical Romance Series

This series is also available as a Special Bundle.
{Also see: Romance, Historical Romance, Novels}

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His Outrageous Proposal
Average rating:  
 10 reviews
 by Dina Bushrod
Why not a business proposal instead, the end game is what counts

How does one get what they want, without having to marry to get it? As a woman, she wants freedom from the constraints of men, especially men of ill intent; he doesn't want to marry just to become part of high society when all they want is his money. Meeting each other during a business conversation leads to an unexpected and quite unusual proposal. It's a win-win situation, she can be free to be the woman she wants to be and he can continue business as usual without the constraints of a woman he doesn't care for while her family enjoys the fruit of his labor. As sometimes happens, things get in the way of agreed-upon plans i.e. those aforementioned men of ill intent, past problems causing current ones, and let's not leave out unexpected passion and love. The author uses all these things to write a great story of women's rights, men getting their just desserts, and even the beginnings of correcting past wrongs. Of course she not going to leave out the beautiful and exciting part of the unexpected passion and love. The continuation of the Great Families' adventures through their now-grown children is perfect for her fans who didn't want their fascinating, adventurous, amazingly passionate stories to en

 by Marilyn Putman
Involving and thought-provoking

I was excited to know that another episode in the sprawling epic saga of the Great Family was forthcoming, and here it is at last!

In this fourth entry of the Scandalous Family series, readers take a journey with Alice and her ambition to open a store. Since the story is set in Victorian England, we know that she has challenged herself to achieve something that is difficult for anyone to accomplish today, and in that era was all but impossible for women. Knowing that it was difficult did not stop Alice, though she has many obstacles to overcome.

The story is so involving, the characters so well-drawn, and the events are “so relatable” (to quote another reviewer), that it was all but impossible to put the book down. By the end I almost felt like a distant member of the family, watching anxiously or happily over Alice and her family members as events unfurled — it was that much of an immersive experience. I think this may be my favorite of this series to date, and that’s really saying something. This is an honest and voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

 by Kathi Soniat
Fascinating Foray into Early England!!

We see more of The Family, who as one member is accused of a crime, the whole family is snubbed by the ton. Alice, who chooses to work at her uncle's solicitor office, is inappropriately approached by a sly legal clerk. She wants control over her life, but cannot own or run a business without a male family member to sponsor her. She has an excellent proposal and goes to a man who funds such ventures.

He does not realize when he agrees to meet, she is a woman. His initial disapproval results in an “outrageous proposal”. They will marry, he will allow her freedom, fund her venture, and he will gain attachment to a ton family. What begins as a purely business arrangement slips a bit into the person. They both have clever minds, and have much to teach each other.

The reality of living in that time, the different mores and customs, the expectations of society, and the relationships make this a stellar read.

 by IngSav
Delightfully complex and interesting.

The complex main character struggles to make her way as an independent woman but successfully meets the challenge head-on. Tracy Cooper-Posy transports me to the Victorian era with interesting details that build a picture of a slowly changing society and the individuals who learn by trial and error how to make life better for themselves and others.

I love the sweet and passionate moments as much as the suspenseful tension throughout which has a very satisfying conclusion. Friends, loves and foes are all interesting and complex characters whom we come to know (or revisit from past novels in the series).

It makes me so happy to read books like this! I have read all the books in this series, as well as the two preceding series, and never fail to be enthralled by new characters and situations relevant to the times.

Each book is so different that I never get bored of The Great Family.

 by Merrie Weiler
Loved It!

This is a gorgeously written story. Fully developed characters moving through a realistic setting make this an intriguing, involving story. I loved every second of it, even the most difficult parts. This is a wonderful addition to the series. Tracy Cooper-Posey has done it again!

I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this excellent book and loved it. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves great storytelling.

 by Susanne
As wonderful as always

Another of Mrs. Tracy Cooper-Posey's books I finished with a content and happy sigh. Since the story of Alice's parents (Marriage of Lies, from the Scandalous Scions series) is my favourite, I awaited this book eagerly and wasn't disappointed.

 by Karen
His Outrageous Proposal

His Outrageous Proposal, by Tracy Cooper-Posey, is the latest installment in the Great Family saga, The Victorians. It’s a business arrangement, disguised as a marriage, between Lady Alice Thomasina Balfour and Garrick Lawrence Wortham. She’s of the ton; he’s a wealthy commoner. Garrick will gain recognition from the upper class, Alice will achieve her dream of owning her own business. Throw in a reprobate clerk, social mores of the time, a little blackmail, and you get a great story. A great addition to the saga. I love this series.

 by Beatriz
Glad to have Tracy back!

His Outrageous Proposal is the latest in the Scandalous Family: The Victorians. It's not the first time I've said it, but I'm very pleased to find the series is still fresh and to still be surprised in every book.

This is the the turn of Alice and Garrick. The character development is so good I've been suffering along with Alice to the point of having to put it down. The story is so relatable it hurts. Glad they found their happy ever after in each other at the end.

 by KatZ
Wonderful

This story fits nicely into the Scandalous Families series. I really enjoyed this story. It features Garrick and Alice who are a pair of interesting characters. This is a perfect addition to a wonderful, long running series of characters I care about. I love each of these stories as each member of this wonderful extended family finds their mate.

 by Marti

Beautiful, entertaining love story featuring Alice and Garrick, two individuals who are independent, hard working, trying to survive the ton’s harsh judgements, and NOT looking for love. You will love them both! This is a worthy addition to the Scandalous Families series!

I reviewed a free Advance Reader copy of this book with no strings attached.


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Excerpt

EXCERPT FROM HIS OUTRAGEOUS PROPOSAL
COPYRIGHT © TRACY COOPER-POSEY 2022
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

So the drawing room was empty of the usual crush of people.  Aunt Annalies sat in her favourite position at the end of the sofa, while two people stood warming themselves by the fire.

“Adam!  Anne!” Jennifer cried.  “We heard so many wonderful things about your wedding!  You must tell us everything!”

Adam looked astonished, while Anne, his new wife, laughed merrily.  She had lived in this house for a short time after Alice and Jennifer had moved in, and had been Aunt Annalies’ butler.  In fact, she had installed a bookshelf upon the wall over Alice’s bed, which Alice was still using.

Alice stepped back to examine Anne from head to foot.  “You look so different from when you were living here, Anne,” she said.  “I hope that is not too rude an observation?”

“I suppose it depends upon whether her appearance has improved or deteriorated,” Annalies said.  “I, for one, find Anne’s appearance very much improved, which is just as it should be, for a new bride just back from her honeymoon.”

Anne’s cheeks turned red. 

Adam gave a small laugh.  “It wasn’t a honeymoon, precisely,” he said in his deep voice.  “I’m afraid work intervened now and then—possibly more than Anne would have liked.”

“No, I liked learning about your business,” Anne said quickly.  “Besides, it extended our honeymoon and distributed it across most of Europe.  What lady can complain about a tour as royal as that?”

Adam didn’t reply, but his expression said much.  His eyes seemed to darken and grow warmer as he shared a private moment with his wife.

Alice shook her head.  “It isn’t just the honeymoon that has changed you, Anne.  That dress you are wearing is simply divine.  May I look at it more closely?”

Anne smiled.  “It is one of the designs that Adam and his father sell—using Kirkaldy tweed, of course.”  She stepped away from the fire and turned slowly, while Jennifer and Alice examined her from hem to collar.

The gown was in two parts, the skirt narrower and straight at the front than any skirt Alice had ever seen before.  It was as if she could detect the shape of Anne’s hips from the way the dress hung. The petticoat beneath must be of the finest cotton…

The back of the dress wasn’t simply gathered, but had been folded at the waist into formal pleats that fell to the floor and gave the necessary freedom for Anne to take a full stride.   It was charmingly different to the full, gathered skirts that were fashionable in London right now.

The jacket was a reddingcoat shape, cut too narrow to close over the torso, and clearly designed to show off the shirtwaist beneath.  It actually buttoned to the skirt on either side, by her hips.  The lapels were made of a lovely Battenburg lace, and the upper sleeves were puffed and full, rising above Anne’s shoulders.

The white shirtwaist was stiff with pintuck pleats and Anne wore a blue ribbon at the collar which matched the flecks in the tweed.

“It is lovely,” Alice said, with a small sigh.  “Maud will want to examine every seam, when she gets home, so she can copy the design.  Those sleeves are simply enormous, Anne.”

“Oh, they’re quite sensible compared to the sleeves we saw in Paris,” Anne said complacently.  “I think some of them were actually stuffed with netting to stop them from collapsing.  And hat brims are growing larger by the day.”

“We’re arranging for the bigger sleeves to be added to our current day dress designs right now,” Adam said, his tone thoughtful.

Jennifer lifted Anne’s hand and stroked the sleeve of the jacket.  “It is the tweed itself I like more,” she said.  “I do adore the colours they put into their tweed in Kirkaldy.  Aunt Bridget mixes the oddest colours together, but they work together very well.  I’ve never seen such colours in other tweeds.”

“Perhaps you should sell the tweed by the yard, Jennifer,” Adam said, with another small smile.  “We don’t distribute yardage—our customers want ready-made garments.”

Alice stared at him, startled.


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