Fallibility, A Regency Romance, is the sequel to Verity, but is a separate, action-packed tale of an independent young woman, Faith, who dares to be "fallible" by violating class distinctions and falling in love with a "commoner." But her aunt will not have it, and so forces her to leave Draken and Verity's home. But there is a kidnapping, an attempted escape. Can Faith's lover find her in time? Or is she and her aunt destined to die at the hands of their captors?
Fallibility, A Regency Romance, and the sequel to Verity, is a separate tale of an independent young woman, Faith, who dares to be "fallible" by violating class distinctions and falling in love with a "commoner." When Faith and Lady Penelope journey to Draken and Verity's home, Faith soon finds herself attracted to the handsome estate manager there. An angry Aunt Penelope will not have it. Events soon go terribly awry. They leave for Brighton, but there is a kidnapping in famous Doone Valley at Robber's Bridge. The two women must attempt escape, a dangerous flight across the moors. Will her lover find her in time? Or will the kidnappers instead? If they do, Faith knows it means a terrible ending for them. Can she keep her aunt and herself alive until help comes? Or will the robbers find her first? Heat Level 2. Originally titled Faith And Fallibility.
Excerpt
“I said out here--now, or I’ll put a shot through the window!”
“We…” Faith heard her voice squeaking. She tried again. “We’d better do as he says, Aunt Penelope.”
Faith leaned past her to open the door on her aunt’s side of the coach, the side from where the voice came.
“We are coming out,” she called in a still squeaky voice. “Don’t harm us.”
“Be quick about it then.”
Faith, grasping the handle firmly in her right hand, opened the door. She turned to her aunt, gave her a small nod, and then exited the vehicle.
She almost fell on her face. Nobody had bothered to position the step. But by hanging onto the door, she managed to remain upright.
“Well, well, what we got here now?” asked a man dressed in dark clothes. He wore loosed fitting trousers, almost pantaloons, tucked into high leather boots. A wide-brimmed hat slouched down low over his forehead. There was a dark-coloured muffler over his face so that only his eyes showed. They glinted like twin shards of anthracite coal by the dim light of the stars.
“Move away from the door,” he ordered her. “Now.” He held a pistol in either hand and he used one of these to emphasize his order with a sweeping gesture of the gun. Although Faith was no expert, the weapons appeared cocked and ready to fire. So she did as told and took several steps forward. Then she sidled out of the way, so that her aunt could exit.
“You in there!” shouted the man again. “I’m losin’ me patience. Get your carcass out here!”
Faith could discern no sounds of movement or otherwise from within the coach. Her aunt must still be sitting there, too frightened to budge.
“Aunt Penelope,” she called. “It is all right. You must come out. Don't be frightened. I am here.”
“You keep your gob shut,” yelled the man. “No talking.”
Faith nodded, but now she heard noises coming from within the coach. Her aunt was coming out. Faith breathed a shallow, quiet sigh of relief, lest the odious robber hear it.
“How dare you? What do you want of us?” Lady Penelope blustered this, as she appeared in the doorway. Although her words sounded brave enough, the break in her voice as she spoke them gave away her real emotional state, one of fear.
“I want ye down out of that coach, now. No more lollygagging, ya old hag. Do as I say!”
Faith wanted to warn her that there was no step, but her Aunt Penelope must have noticed, because she edged out of the carriage with care, holding the doorframe on both sides as she lowered her right foot to the ground. Then, still grasping the door with one hand, she climbed down, just as Faith had, only without almost falling on her face to do it.
“That’s better. Come on boys!” the stranger shouted. “Ya can come out of the bushes now. We’ve got work to do. Night is gettin’ on.”
It was as if the shrubs along the side of the dirt road came alive, as they erupted with other coarse creatures of the night. Heads popped up. There were shouts and grunts of laughter as a group of rough-looking men emerged from their hiding places. All told, Faith counted at least six of them.
“Ye should no better than to try and cross Robber’s Bridge at night,” The leader said to the driver, who stood near by, looking fat and sullen as ever.
Professional Reviews
Fallibility, A Regency Romance Review
Review by: Rose Renee Shelly on Oct. 30, 2010 : Five Stars Out Of Five
I've just finished reading Fallibility by R.R. Shelsky. This is a sequel of sorts to Verity and is every bit as good. For me, the plot and characters really stand out in this book. Faith is real. She's a willful young woman who wants her own way, and can afford it, because she's wealthy and of the nobility. So is her Aunt Penelope, a truly dominating character if there ever was one. Ultimately, she controls Faith's purse strings as her guardian. So the tension between these two women is palpable. And when Faith fall in love with the "wrong sort" of man, the handsome Giles, Lady Penelope has a hissy fit. Now there is three-way tension, between Faith, Giles, and her aunt. Lady Penelope insists they must leave the manor home of Lord and Lady Hazelemere, and journey to Brighton. This is a none-to-subtle effort on the aunt's part to get Faith away from the lower-class Giles,
On the way, they are robbed and kidnapped in none other place than Doone Valley, no less. I didn't realize this setting from Lorna Doone is real, but apparently it is. Even the "Robber's Bridge" is. I don't want to spoil the ending, but let's just say that it is a race against time, for the kidnappers intend to kill Faith and her aunt.
Their only hope is escape or rescue, and neither seem likely. Will Giles come to her rescue? Can she manage to free herself and her aunt and avoid recapture? The answers lie in this fast-paced, entertaining Regency Romance of the first order, Fallibility, by R.R. Shelsky. If you like great plot, solid characterizations, humorous dialogue, love trying to find its way, and gritty problems, you'll love Fallibility. It gets five stars from me.
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