The tale of Henrietta and Ashley
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It is clear from the beginning that the handsome young Viscount Desford, Ashley Carrington, regards his childhood playmate Henrietta Silverdale only as a close, beloved friend - almost a sister. Their marriage would have gratified both their families but Hetta had agreed that they wouldn't have suited at all. But although he wouldn't have dreamt of marrying her, Desford finds himself becoming uncommonly jealous of Hetta's eligible suitors, the stolid Mr Nethercott and the youthful Mr Beckenham as he finds neither of them are quite... worthy of her.
A chance meeting at a party given by his aunt has the dashing Viscount befriending a forlorn runaway - a lovely young ingenue called Charity Steane. Seemingly persecuted by her relatives especially an autocratic aunt, Lady Bugle, she has made a plan to escape to her grandfather. In agreeing to aid Charity or Cherry for short ( for how could the chivalrous Corinthian leave a damsel in distress? ), Desford finds himself plunged into a morass of confusion and misunderstanding. While he knows everything is proper and that he has taken pains to ensure that Cherry's reputation remains intact, the world seems to think that the young Viscount has formed a lasting attachment at last. Including his own father! His austere sire is doubly enraged when he finds that his son has seemingly formed a mesalliance with a scion of a man that he holds in contempt. Even dear Hetta at first bears certain reservations too especially when Desford brings Cherry into her care. But soon, she finds herself liking the sweet, simple girl for her own sake. But all is not as simple as it seems. The skinflint grandfather of Cherry's is found to be leg-shackled to his lady-housekeeper and refuses to take any part in the care of his grand-daughter. To add to the confusion, Cherry's wretched father returns from the Continent. A most reprehensible, shady character, Mr Steane sees his daughter in the company of the Viscount and sees a golden opportunity. What I really liked in this book was the relationship between Desford and his stern yet doting father, the Earl of Wroxton. Afflicted by gout, the Earl frequently yells and berates his young heir for his manifold failings; one of them being that he hasn't settled down and provided another Carrington heir.
It doesn't help that the Earl once dreamed up a match between Desford and his best friend, Hetta - which was scotched as neither of them would agree to it. But underneath all that bluster, one can practically feel the palpable love and affection between father and son. The relationship between the two brothers was also quite wonderful to see. The Honourable Simon Carrington is graceless, humorous, rash and just what anyone could wish for in a younger brother. Not only does he help his elder brother in his dealings, Simon also plays a significant role in bringing Hetta and Ashley together. Not to forget the small, understated but most wonderful role played by Ashley's incredibly wise mama, Lady Wroxton.
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