The devil's protection cover

The devil's protection

by Susan Clitheroe

Geneva Hartwell has been left a substantial inheritance by her estranged uncle. Upon the death of her father though she learns that she has been made the ward of Leonard Boeman, her late uncle’s avaricious stepson. In escaping his unwelcome attentions, she runs across Lord Vance at a country inn where he rescues his flighty sister from a fortune hunter. Lord Vance and Geneva had met briefly before and, in sympathy with her predicament, he persuades her to undertake a sham betrothal until she reaches her majority and can escape her guardian for good. For his own reasons, Lord Vance also decides it best for them all to spend the betrothal period with his aunt and uncle in Vienna. As they spend more time together, Geneva and Lord Vance realize on their own that they would very much like the betrothal to be real but pride and jealous rivals keep interfering.

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?