Four years ago Lady Sarah Rowdon, only child of the Earl and Countess of Rowdon, had declined an offer of marriage from then Captain Kenneth Link, on the orders of her parents. Sarah loved Kenneth but he was comparatively poor, and her parents demanded that she marry money. Her father had gambled away his inheritance, her mother's portion and her own dowry, but Sarah knows nothing of his addiction; they have told her the money was all lost in bad investments. Sarah continues to trust and believe in her parents. She endures their criticism and bad humor chiefly by imagining herself a heroine; she lapses into daydreams to escape.
Four years later, desperate for money and having no better target in sight, Sarah's parents have ordered her to bring someone up to scratch before the month is out or see her father in debtor's prison. The likeliest candidate is Sir Lindsay Manx; however, when her mother learns that Kenneth is now Marquess of Broadmoor, she orders Sarah to put off Sir Lindsay and reattach Kenneth. At Almacks her mother orders her to swoon into Kenneth's arms; Sarah intends to disobey, but, lost in a daydream, she careens into Kenneth and instead of fainting gracefully in his arms, she sends them both crashing to the floor. Kenneth believes Sarah when she tells him of her daydreaming habits, but gossip begins flying, and he can't decide whether she is a heartless golddigger who once dumped him because he had no money, or an artless and trusting young lady, as his instincts tell him she is.
This is a fast moving fast read about the effects of gossip and the machinations of various characters who use it to further their ends. It doesn't seem to be deeply felt, and the characters are all rather shadowy, but it's carefully plotted, witty, and has some pretty sharp observation here and there. Recommended, but only if you really, really like comedy of manners.
Four years later, desperate for money and having no better target in sight, Sarah's parents have ordered her to bring someone up to scratch before the month is out or see her father in debtor's prison. The likeliest candidate is Sir Lindsay Manx; however, when her mother learns that Kenneth is now Marquess of Broadmoor, she orders Sarah to put off Sir Lindsay and reattach Kenneth. At Almacks her mother orders her to swoon into Kenneth's arms; Sarah intends to disobey, but, lost in a daydream, she careens into Kenneth and instead of fainting gracefully in his arms, she sends them both crashing to the floor. Kenneth believes Sarah when she tells him of her daydreaming habits, but gossip begins flying, and he can't decide whether she is a heartless golddigger who once dumped him because he had no money, or an artless and trusting young lady, as his instincts tell him she is.
This is a fast moving fast read about the effects of gossip and the machinations of various characters who use it to further their ends. It doesn't seem to be deeply felt, and the characters are all rather shadowy, but it's carefully plotted, witty, and has some pretty sharp observation here and there. Recommended, but only if you really, really like comedy of manners.
