Never Less Than a Lady

When Alexander Randall inherits his title as Earl of Daventry, duty demands he secure the family line with a proper marriage to a suitable debutante. Instead, he finds himself captivated by Julia Bancroft, a skilled village midwife whose mysterious past threatens to destroy any chance at respectability. After Julia faces danger from her former life, Alexander offers her an unexpected proposal that could solve both their problems. Yet Julia struggles to trust again after betrayal, even as she feels drawn to this unconventional nobleman who sees past society's judgments to her true worth.

Simon Prebble delivers a masterful narration that brings depth and authenticity to both the aristocratic drawing rooms and rural villages of Regency England. His nuanced performance captures Alexander's internal conflict between duty and desire, while rendering Julia's hard-won strength and vulnerability with equal skill. Prebble's pacing allows the emotional stakes to build naturally, never rushing the characters' journey toward trust and love. His ability to convey the subtle class distinctions and social tensions of the era enhances Putney's richly detailed historical romance, making this a particularly satisfying listen for fans of character-driven period fiction.