Overall, The Rake and His Honour was an enjoyable Regency read. Louise and Arnaut are both complex and likeable characters. I only wish they'd spent a little less time ogling each other. Every encounter, the author paused the action to tell us how much they fancied one another. We got that sense right from their first meeting, so there was no need to push the point to that extent. That small gripe aside, the plot was compelling, and there was plenty of action to keep you turning the pages, so it was a delightful quick read. If you like your Regency heroes dashing, noble, and willing to take a bullet for you, give The Rake and His Honour a try.

These frothy, adventurous tales are just perfect for an hour or two on a Saturday afternoon. They aren't particularly deep but still offer a compelling story and attractive characters. For me, the cutout covers are a signal that I will get a mostly traditional Regency with a dash of adventure. In this, we meet Louise, a young woman who is delivering letters in the service of the French kings against Bonaparte. She is a French Protestant, living in London, sent back to the motherland on behalf of her grandfather — and what an adventure she has. From her close call in the Pyrenees to her meeting with Arnaut, the most handsome man she has met, to her return to London (where who else shows up?) to her courageous journey back to France, this is a brave, resourceful heroine. Elliott brings in enjoyable bits of history — the silvermakers in exile in London, the condition of the French court, also in exile, and just everyday life of both French and English people. This is a most enjoyable read.

The book opens in 1813 Louise & her guide Joseph are fleeing from French spies in the Pyrenees, nearing exhaustion they are forced to take refuge in a cave, she meets Arnaut, the most handsome man she has ever seen. Arnaut, the son of the Marquis de Fontane, who is also a loyal supporter of the king, is hiding his thoroughbred stallion & two foals from Napoleon’s men, when Louise stumbles into the cave and collapses in his arms.
Louise Fauriel comes from a family of talented silversmiths. Widowed for three years when her husband & parents died from smallpox, she and her grandfather live with her brother and his wife in Soho London. Using their artisan shop as a front, Louise & her grandfather run messages between the Comte d’Artois and his brother, King Louis.
Arnaut’s father is willing to organise a revolt if the king will send a member of his family guaranteeing the French freedom of religion. The marquis asks his son to deliver a letter requesting this to the king in England. When Louise is kidnapped by Julie Delaville, one of Napoleon’s elite spies, Arnaut trades the letter he is carrying for her life. But when Arnaut’s leg is badly injured, it falls to Louise to carry a letter through dangerous territory to the marquis.
A fast paced book that is full of mystery & intrigue. The scene shifts from France to England & back to France. Arnaut & Louise are very likeable although Louise is lacking in self worth. Louise’s brother & his wife are mean & treat both Louise & her grandfather despicably. The characters are well portrayed & I compelled to carry on reading to find out how everything worked out. You are taken on a whole range of emotions, I thoroughly enjoyed the book