November is Victorian romances month and Best Historical Romance
Trilogies month. So we have a lot to do! I’m starting with one by Meredith Duran.
Her writing is unique, detailed, word intensive, impeccably researched, and so
captivating I couldn’t put it down.
A Lady’s Lesson in
Scandal is a Victorian romance, a sort of My Fair Lady with an inheritance
twist. It introduces us to Cornelia (“Nell”), who was born a twin, the
daughters of the Earl of Rushden. As a young child, Nell was stolen by a nanny
who was half crazy and hidden away in the East End of London. Raised in
poverty, she became a factory girl, though she loved books, and in that, was
well educated. She survived by her wits and her determination but suffered
terribly from too little food and too little care.
Just before the woman Nell called “Mum” died, she told Nell
her father was Lord Rushden, and encouraged her to find him. Nell goes in
search of the man she thought did her Mum wrong, intending to shoot him. But
she finds instead a new, young Lord Rushden (the earl’s heir), Simon St. Maur,
who is her 3rd cousin. Simon, a handsome rake who has inherited the
title and lands but no wealth to support them (all the money was left to the earl’s
two daughters), immediately recognizes Nell for who she is. He offers to wed
her, thereby helping her to become a lady and regain her rightful place and wealth,
enriching both their coffers. Nell agrees, realizing only too late she has
given Simon her heart.
Simon is fascinated by Nell who is so different from the
superficial ladies of society he is used to, but if he cannot persuade the
court to accept her as the lost twin, he intends to annul the marriage.
Duran weaves a suspenseful, believable romance, a story of
two people caught between a life of wealth and a life of poverty, neither one
comfortable in the other’s world, yet perfect together.
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