Second of Three

 Real Earls Break the Rules by Tina Gabrielle 

This was the second book in this series. It follows the middle sister and the best friend from the first book. It was fine. Not great. Not bad. Brandon is hosting a house party for his sister because she is getting married. The whole Huntington family is invited. He asks Amelia to paint his portrait and to paint him a copy of a famous painting so he can keep the copy and gift the original to an American friend. We learned that he is dealing with the financial troubles caused by his late father in the previous book. In this one, we find out just how bad they are. And he tells Amelia, but won't tell his family. His grandmother wants him to marry the daughter of a Duke because she comes with a large dowry, but he can't stand her and he refuses to have a marriage like his parents had. He and Amelia have clandestine late night meetings so she can paint and they fall for each other. He even takes her into town to see the textile mill. She goes twice and on the second trip she uncovers a plot that has been occurring at the mill; his father owes 20,000 pounds and either he pays or he gives up 500 acres of unentaled land and the mill so the new mill manager has been sabotaging the machines so Brandon will have to sell. Turns out the land has coal and he would be rich. All of this Amelia overhears. She barely gets away from the two men. Well, the new manager was being blackmailed by the other guy because his mom is ill so he gets off pretty easy but the other guy doesn't and the IOU manages to disappear before the constable can show up. Brandon digs for coal and finds it. And his money troubles are over. He and Amelia are seen in a compromising position and while the Duke and Duchess thought he was going to be offering for their daughter he says that he was going to be announcing his engagement, to Amelia. The epilogue is three years down the road. They have two children. She is painting under her own name. He is rich. They are happy. It was fine.