Two sisters, one Season. Chloe won't be content with her first Season unless she catches the eye--and the heart--of the ton's most wealthy, most handsome, most interesting bachelor. And she has no intention of sitting around waiting to be noticed. Phaedra just wants the Season to end so she can return to the country, unburdened with anything so useless as a husband. The only thing interesting about London is its cultural treasures, which she intends to sample liberally.
The men in the sisters' court aren't quite sure what to make of them. Lord Wilderlake is intrigued, Mr. Dervigne intends seduction, the Earl of Everingham is enchanted, Mr. Martin wants a big sister, and Reggie Farwell is merely amused. Faced with such an assortment of suitors, how can Chloe and Phaedra realize their dreams? Only time--and the course of true love--will tell.
Excerpt
Fortunately the next inn was reached in little over a quarter of an hour. It was not one of the better hostelries, but there were two bed chambers free as well as a private parlor where they could dine. Insult was added to injury when the landlady informed Chloe that she would not be able to bathe immediately. There was only one tub available, and his lordship had commanded that it be brought to him first.
She stormed, she wept, she pled, but Everingham's chivalry stopped short of his relinquishing the inn's only bathtub.
She sat in her room, clad in her damp and smelly dress, for the better part of an hour before the tub was brought to her and cans of hot water were carried in. The water was dumped into the tub, a towel was tossed upon the bed. There was no maid to assist her, so she was forced to tussle with buttons and laces. Even worse, she had no soap, for she had not brought any and all the inn had to offer was harsh and scratchy.
She emerged from the bath smelling better and feeling a little cleaner, but in no good humor. When she pulled her primrose challis morning dress from her portmanteau, it was dreadfully wrinkled.
She put it on anyway.
Cleanly clothed at last, she attacked her hair, tangled from the night before and damp from her bath. It stubbornly refused to behave, and she finally pulled it back and tied it with a ribbon at the nape of her neck. A quick glance at the cloudy mirror told her she looked less than her best. I do not care. This is no longer an exciting adventure. I hate him. I wouldn't marry him if he were the last man on earth.
With that resolve firmly in mind, she strode from the room and downstairs to the private parlor. She intended to demand that he find her a maid first, and second, to return her to her family.
He was sitting at the table sipping brandy. "It is about time. I have been awaiting you this age."
When he made no motion to offer her refreshment, she planted her fists upon her hips. "I suppose I must order my own tea?"
"If you want some." He contemplated the golden liquid in his glass. "I have been thinking, Miss Hazelbourne, and have come to the conclusion that we will not suit."
"Ha! As if I would even consider you as a husband."
"I cannot understand what possessed me to yield to your importunities. I must have been drunk to consider an elopement."
"You were as eager as I. You said that you wanted to marry me and take care of me. If this is how you do so, I pity any woman foolish enough to become your wife."
"I did take care of you. I provided a handsome coach and ample funds. You cannot expect me to be a nurse or doctor as well."
"A husband should care for his wife in sickness," she said. "It so states in the marriage vows."
"You are not my wife, so I have not promised you anything of the sort."
"You should begin as you would go on."
"There are servants for that sort of thing. Mother would never have subjected me to such indignities," he stated as he refilled his empty glass.
"My mother would have held my head while I was being sick and then washed my face afterward."
"Perhaps you should return to her then."
"I would, if I could. Oh, Jeremy, you neglected me so dreadfully. How could you be so unkind?"
"I, unkind? I did not soil your clothing and practically ruin your coach," he replied, obviously unmoved.
"I could not help myself. I get so sick when I travel."
"Well, then, why did you suggest that we elope? You know that it is at least three days' travel to Scotland, if the roads are dry."
"I did not think of that when I made my plans. I only wanted to escape."
Professional Reviews
Romance Reviews Today: A Sisterly Regard
England, early 1800s
Lord and Lady Gifford are a loving couple happily raising their family in
the country, but now it's past time to present their two daughters to the Crown
and Society. Chloe, the elder Miss Haybourne at nineteen, can scarcely curb
her impatience; she's confident she'll be a great success and catch a
handsome, titled husband with a handsome fortune. Miss Phaedra, on the other hand,
is in no hurry. She'd much rather stay home furthering her botanical studies,
and if she ever marries it will be for the kind of love her parents have.
Both young ladies are attractive, well bred, and have good manners and modest
dowries. With mama's good ton and their papa's aunt, the Duchess of Verbain, to
sponsor them, they should do well -- if only excitable Chloe can control her
hoydenish tendencies and serious Phaedra can refrain from exhibiting her
brains and her disdain of useless frivolity.
On the way to Town, the Haybournes stop to aid a young man who had been
tossed out of his high perch phaeton. Is he going to be the hero opposite
Phaedra? One can usually spot the hero in the first pages of a romance, but A
SISTERLY REGARD kept this reader in suspense by providing several candidates.
Besides, there are two sisters; their lovely cousin, Lady Mary, granddaughter of
the duke; and their mother's youngish, widowed Cousin Louisa who is invited to
chaperone Phaedra while Mama keeps a close eye on Chloe. We also meet a
young lady with a most horribly ambitious mama who pushes her shy daughter on the
sisters to pick up any suitors they may drop. How many of them will end up
paired with a hero within the covers of A SISTERLY REGARD? Perhaps a sequel or
two is in the offing. If so, it would be most welcome.
Besides the young man met on the road who turns out to be a viscount busily
repairing the estate nearly come to ruin by his wastrel father and
grandfather, possible candidates for hero status include a shy young man taken with the
effervescent Chloe; an earl who needs to do something about his mother; a
complete to the nines fop who wears outlandish clothes and brangles with
Phaedra every time they meet. And, naturally, a notorious rake sets his sights on
both sisters.
A SISTERLY REGARD is an exceptionally fine example of a traditional Regency
romance. The settings, customs, and mores displayed are those we've come to
expect of the era. That said, within those boundaries, A SISTERLY REGARD is
highly original in its situations and characterizations. While human emotions
are basic, we know they are subject to molding by environment, and Ms. Glad
understands that very well. Her delightful characters-driven novel reflects her
familiarity with the Regency of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. As a
result, A SISTERLY REGARD's large and varied cast of characters is not made up of
modern folk dressed up in period costume; they have opinions and motivations
true to their time. And, Ms. Glad has titles and forms of address down
perfectly!
Thanks to Uncial Press and other e-publishers for keeping the traditional
Regency alive. And a special thanks to such a fine writer as Judith B. Glad
(who also has a dab hand with American frontier historicals) for contributing
her lovely and touching A SISTERLY REGARD.
Jane Bowers
Romance Reviews Today
The Romance Studio: A Sisterly Regard
A Sisterly Regard
Judith B. Glad
Historical romance
Available from Uncial Press
ISBN: 978-1-60174-016-8
April 2007
The Misses Hazelbourne are headed for London for the Season. Chloe, the elder, is the belle of the neighborhood and feels that she will take the Capital by storm. Phaedre, the younger, a much more serious girl, is very apprehensive of the coming months. Once in the city, nothing is as they thought. Chloe is just one of many, and as spoiled as she is, she chafes at the restrictions placed upon her, making things very uncomfortable for her family. Phaedre is pleasantly surprised with the literary salons, museums, and the friends that she makes. One of these is the very popular tulip Reggie Farwell. There is definitely more to this sharp young man that wildly colored coats and high shirt points. But the spoiled Chloe might just spoil things for all of them with her selfish starts.
Anyone who is a fan of this genre will love this story. Ms. Glad has written a classic Regency with appealing characters, intrigue, romance, and suspense. Chloe is a spoiled brat, so overindulged by her father that she thinks that she is the center of the universe. Phaedre is a much more likeable character, she does think that much of the Season is silly, but when her attitude is called to her attention, she acknowledges to herself that she is having fun, at least when she is not dealing with her sister. I often felt sorry for her since she is often overlooked in favor of her less well-behaved sister, but she was very patient with the situation. The other characters are very well drawn from the sheep like mama’s boy Lord Everingham and his harridan mother to the evil Mr. Devigne whose hobby is ruining young girls. I especially liked Reggie Farwell, who hides behind his foppish demeanor and dares Phaedre to know the real man. Chloe comes out of her Season much better than she deserves, the reader will dislike the spoiled girl who makes her family miserable. These characters are so real and the era described so well that I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work.
I loved him. At age twelve he touched my heart with his music. At age twenty he captured my heart when our eyes met as he sat on a stage and sang Four months later, he fractured my heart with his refusal to allow us to stay together. At age seventy
In this heartfelt romantic memoir, Harry and Elizabeth share their passions and feelings about the poignant events that brought them back together after being divorced and estranged for almost twenty years. Filled with emotion, suspense, and humor --
