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The Reluctant Widow
by
Georgette Heyer
historical romance in a Kindle edition that was published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on October 1, 2008 and has 323 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include These Old Shades, Bath Tangle, Lady of Quality, The Black Moth, Venetia, The Spanish Bride, Simon the Coldheart, Beauvallet, A Civil Contract, Regency Buck, An Infamous Army, Frederica, The Unknown Ajax, Black Sheep, Sprig Muslin, Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle, The Grand Sophy, These Old Shades, Arabella, Powder and Patch, The Nonesuch
A standalone historical romance revolving around a young woman forced by circumstances into being a governess. It was originally published January 1946.
My Take
That’s unexpected. Someone doesn’t want to inherit an estate. And I don’t understand why Elinor is so against this plan that could improve her circumstances! I can understand her preferring to be a governess to living with a relative . . . and working for nothing, but to not grab this opportunity when it presents itself?
We learn all this and more through Heyer’s use of third person global subjective points-of-view, as we have the perspectives of Elinor, Carlyon, Nicky, Francis, and more.
Yep, perspectives. It’s all about perspectives. Each person has their own view of what happens in life, and it’s quite true about the Cheviots and Carlyons.
There is action what with home invasions through secret doors and unwelcome relatives, attacks, an enthusiastic dog and his equally excitable owner, a missing government memorandum, and the matter-of-fact. He’s so matter-of-fact that it’s a good thing Heyer tells us that Elinor and Carlyon are smelling of April and May.
The Reluctant Widow is an easy and cozy story that was fun to read.
The Story
It’s mischance, and luck for Elinor, when she enters the wrong coach. Still more luck keeps Eustace Cheviot alive just long enough . . .
The Characters
Elinor Rochdale of Feldenhall is notorious for her father and has worked as a governess for six years. Miss Beccles, a.k.a. Becky, had been Elinor’s governess. Polly is Miss Beccles’ maid. Aunt Sophia is a nosy one.
Edward “Ned”, Lord Carlyon, has three brothers and three sisters: Harry is on Sir Rowland Hill’s staff in the Peninsula; John is secretary to Lord Sidmouth at the Home Office; Nicky is the youngest brother, who’s just been sent down from Oxford; Georgiana, Lady Flint, is pregnant; Augusta “Gussie”; and, Elizabeth “Eliza”, Lady Hartlepool, who lives in Bath. Bouncer is Nick’s dog; Rufus is his horse. Mrs Rugby is the housekeeper. Steyning is the coachman. Matthew is a groom.
Highnoons outside Billingshurst is . . .
. . . the ruined estate of Eustace Cheviot, a loose-screw who can do no good. Barrow, a groom, and his missus are the only staff. Lord Bedlington is Eustace’s uncle and one of the Prince Regent’s ADCs; he’s at the Horse Guards. Francis Cheviot is Bedlington’s son and Eustace’s cousin. Louis De Castres is a French émigré and friends with Eustace and Francis. Lionel Cheviot was Eustace’s father; his mother had been a Wincanton, sister to Carlyon’s mother.
Hitchen is the landlord who runs the Bull in Wisborough Green. Jem is a tapster. Dr Greenlaw is the local doctor. Mr Presteign is the pastor. Finsbury is a lawyer and will be an executor. Sir Matthew Kendal lives at the Priory and warns Nick to keep his dog away. Miss Lynton and Miss Elizabeth live at Elm House. Mr and Mrs Frinton live at the Hurst. Redditch is a carpenter.
Mrs Macclesfield of Five Mile Ash near Billingshurst had employed Elinor as a governess. Keighley is a schoolmate of Nick’s. Sir Henry Peyton bought Elinor’s father’s grays. Bonaparte is warring over Europe. I think Torrens works at the Horse Guards. Romeo Coates was the subject of a story. Brummell is still about.
The Cover and Title
The cover’s background is a wood-panelled room with Elinor wearing a deep purple Empire gown with a grayish-blue shawl draped around her shoulders and sitting in an ornate chair. Behind her is Lord Carlyon, leaning against a window. The author’s name is at the top in a shadowed white. A transparent blue banner crosses Elinor’s knees with the title in a shadowed white script, the letters extending beyond the banner’s edge. At the bottom right is a testimonial in white.
The title is all about Elinor, The Reluctant Widow.
