The tale of gentle Gareth and homely Hester
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But it differs in several surprising aspects. In the first chapter, we are introduced to Sir Gareth Ludlow, a handsome, well-liked fellow - well blessed in every respect. To see his charming smiles, one could almost forget the fact that his beloved fiancee, the headstrong Society beauty Clarissa Lincombe, passed away barely seven years ago.
Insisting that he has largely put Clarissa behind him and no longer grieves for her, Sir Gareth has decided to have a marriage of convenience. As such, he chooses one of his oldest friends, Lady Hester Theale. A quiet, unexceptionable young lady who has been on the shelf these past years, Lady Hester is in an unhappy state - having retired from society without any offers while secretly nursing a secret love in her heart for a certain unattainable gentleman. Unfortunately on his way to Lady Hester's abode, he encounters the most lovely creation in a gown of sprig muslin going about unattended. It clearly behoved the man of honour, such as Sir Gareth, to restore her to her family well against her wishes. Unfortunately, Amanda Smith turns out to be a young lady of no little imagination and determination and Sir Gareth finds the task fraught with difficulty. It is no wonder that Sir Gareth's proposal fails miserably. Comparing herself to the vision of the beautiful, vivacious Amanda - and the not forgotten Clarissa, Lady Hester is reminded of her inadequacies. All Sir Gareth's words of persuasion are for naught as Lady Hester finds that a cold, bloodless marriage of civility with the man that she loves utterly repulsive.
Stunned and more than a little surprised by Lady Hester's vehement rejection, Sir Gareth departs with Amanda. It would have been a simple, uncomplicated journey but Sir Gareth hadn't counted on Miss Amanda's ingenuity. Soon, the duo are embroiled in a tangle of lies and mischief as he tries to keep up with Amanda who continually struggles to escape from him. While touring England, the dreamy young poet, Hildebrand Ross also finds himself dragged into their intrigues. What I liked about this story is the fact that nothing is as it seems. In a simple romance, one would have expected the beauty to fall for the handsome gentleman and vice versa. Amanda however bucks the notion as she plainly only has eyes for an old beau of hers - the military inclined Neil Kendal - while far from loving her, Sir Gareth could find nothing worse than to be tied down to such a tiresome young lady. And the true heroine of the story, Lady Hester, really grows on you. I confess I didn't like her at first. Far from the fiery headstrong heroines of the other romances, this lady doesn't buck tradition nor any rules of etiquette, more content with fading into the background - the typical maiden aunt. How she would stare at the notion that she do anything quite of the common. Beginning as a quiet, insipid mouse, one later sees that there's more to the gentle Lady Hester than meets the eye.
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