You could see it coming in Secrets Of A Summer Night when Marcus found Lillian playing rounders in her underwear (shocking!)… The lovely, lively American Lillian Bowman up against the stiff English formality of Marcus, Lord Westcliff! Poor Marcus was taught never to show emotion. His parents were uncaring, stiff and cruel. Every time Marcus became fond of a nanny or another staff member, his father dismissed them. He had limited time with his sisters. He was scared of his father’s huge dogs, so he was locked into a room with them when he was five, for three long terrified hours – to ‘get over it’. Poor little kid. He was beaten and bullied and abused until he was a stiff aristocrat who thought emotions were unwanted and stupid, especially something like (shudder) love!
Independent, bold American heiress Lillian Bowman comes into his life like a gale-force wind, blowing all his rigid, stuffy morals and manners to hell. She challenges him on every decision, probably the only woman in England to do so. The shaken Marcus topples from his lofty perch like a ninepin, totally unhinged and mad with lust – and love – for this passionate free spirit. Gosh, the scene where he kicks his mother’s door down and nearly strangles her with her pearls is – thrillingly primal. (He has a reason for it, rest assured. He is our hero, after all.) Go, Marcus! We can only look forward to the rest of this stunning ‘Wallflower’ series. Big sigh!
‘It wasn’t a meaningless act for me either,’ Marcus said, his raspy whisper tickling her ear. ‘Yesterday I finally realized that all the things I thought were wrong about you were actually the things I enjoyed most. I don’t give a damn what you do, so long as it pleases you. Run barefoot on the front lawn. Eat pudding with your fingers. Tell me to go to hell as often as you like. I want you just as you are. After all, you’re the only woman aside from my sisters who has ever dared to tell me to my face that I’m an arrogant ass. How could I resist you?’ (And this is sheer poetry for the unemotional Marcus!)