Kerry Allen

Name: Anthony Malory
Classification: Regency Rake

Found In: Johanna Lindsey’s Tender Rebel 

The Meet Cute: Anthony’s keeping an eye on his niece, who is attending a ball he wouldn’t be caught dead at, from the safety of the garden when Roslynn sneaks out to escape another dance with a toe-masher headed her way. It’s lust at first sight, but she tells him right away, no matter how tempting he is, she’s looking for a husband, not a boy toy. Ah, the tantalizing aroma of a challenge…

The Catch: Her very life depends on finding a husband in a big hurry, so his determination to thwart her goal long enough get into her knickers could literally be the death of her.

The Pretty: Anthony is one of the rare blue-eyed, black-haired misfits in a family that has produced generations of green-eyed blonds, purportedly the influence of his gypsy grandmother popping up in the DNA from time to time.

There was a wide mouth gently turned at the corners, a strong, arrogant line of jaw. The nose was chiseled sharply, aquiline*, proud. The skin was darkly tanned, swarthy, yet still a sharp contrast to the ebony hair that crowned his head in thick waves. The eyes—God protect the innocent from such eyes—were purest blue, heavy-lidded, with the barest suggestion of a slant. They were exotic, hypnotic, framed by black lashes and slashing brows. They were assessing, probing, boldly sensual—warm, too warm.

Please note this assessment was made at night, outdoors, with only the aid of a stray beam of light from an upstairs window. Every time I look at somebody in the dark with a limited light source, they’re shades of gray. Roslynn evidently possesses some kind of vampiric night vision.

* And don’t get me started on “aquiline.” I learned to ignore the ol’ hooked beak every time some unfortunate hero was afflicted with that Word of the Decade. Anyone find “eagle schnoz” particularly attractive imagery?

Everything about him proclaimed him an avid outdoorsman, athletic, a bloody Corinthian, which was so contrary to the reputation that would have him a debauched creature of the night, devoted to sensual pleasures and late hours of dissipation.

Wait a minute. Vampiric night vision? Debauched creature of the night? I do believe we’ve discovered the seed from which paranormal romance germinated…

Endearing Qualities

• Fiercely loyal to his family.
• Engages in scandalous displays of public affection.
• When his intended makes keeping a mistress (or several) a condition of marriage, he agrees… if she will fill the role.
• Plays matchmaker for long-lost loves torn asunder by misunderstanding.
• Even when pissed off at his judgmental wife, he’s what we call a “considerate” lover.
• Upon a quick skim to refresh my memory, I couldn’t help but notice he threatens to tie Ros to a chair one time and spank her another. It took me only 19 years to realize Tony’s just a little kinky.

Handy Skills

• Inventive use of a chair
• Inventive use of his bride’s cleavage to distract highwaymen so he can dispatch the brigands forthwith
• Able to hunt down stalkers and beat into them the necessity of forgetting the stalkee’s existence
• Despite being a fourth son, he’s rich (still a skill)

In Anthony’s Words: Upon informing Ros that her potential husbands are all out of the question (gay, engaged, sadist, banging his sister, bound to gamble her into the poor house within a year) and destroying all her hopes and dreams:

Her woebegone expression struck right to his heart. He was responsible, with his half-truths and fabrications. He had interfered with her life with the most selfish of motives. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to push her toward another man. And it wasn’t only that he wanted her himself. The thought of another man touching her had the strangest, gut-wrenching effect on him.

Tony gets to have his say twice so I can mock him.

“You didn’t want to marry me, sweetheart,” he reminded her. “I practically had to twist your arm. And even when you agreed, you did everything possible to keep a distance between us. Would you have believed me then if I had told you I loved you? Roslynn, why else would I marry you?”

Suuuuuure he knew it was love when he proposed. He thought only that his guts were wrenched. He probably attributed it to eating some bad chicken.

The Drawbacks: Honesty-is-the-best-policy types might take issue with the amount of lying Anthony does, but I assure you, every falsehood is uttered with the best of intentions toward himself.

Get Your Hands on Anthony

Tender Rebel by Johanna Lindsey, currently available with the completely irrelevant castle cover.

Also appearing in several other Malory family novels, but honestly, don’t bother beyond James. I believe Jeremy’s book prompted my decade-long hiatus from romance. So much Bad Boy potential, tragically gone to waste…

And now behold my beloved 1988 cover.

Note the absence of Fabio, and not a mullet in sight. Is it any wonder I have fought to preserve my ownership of this copy?