The beginning of a Regency romantic trilogy, a fun bit of predictable (almost) storytelling which was greatly entertaining. An excellent piece of escapism with two more lovely slices of the drama to look forward to. (I’m guessing the next will be Quin’s love story and then Merrick’s, see if you agree with me!)
Sir Alasdair MacLachlan is a dashing man-about-town, too charming for his own good, and his rakish behavior towards women have gained him a notorious reputation. But Sir Alasdair's cavalier past is about to catch up with him when a beautiful stranger arrives on his doorstep with a basket full of surprises. Miss Esme Hamilton is a gentlewoman tossed out of the home and life she knew in Scotland by a vindictive stepfather. With her infant sister Sorcha in tow, Esme makes her way to London by her wits and her tenacity, and calls on the man she holds responsible for their plight. Sir Alasdair MacLachlan, she is confident, has committed more than a few sins. But Esme vows that Sorcha is one he won't walk away from.
During her frequent travels through England, Liz Carlyle always packs her pearls, her dancing slippers, and her whalebone corset, confident in the belief that eventually she will receive an invitation to a ball or a rout. Alas, none has been forthcoming. While waiting, however, she has managed to learn where all the damp, dark alleys and low public houses can be found. Liz hopes she has brought just a little of the nineteenth century alive for the reader.
