ECCENTRIC LADY

by Jane Lovelace ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 1983

Lovelace's first hardcover Regency romance features a heroine of the bristly, anti-ton ilk: Lady Elizabeth Anne Haughton-Marshall, who'd much rather feed chickens and breed horses on her farms than join the frolickers in London. But Beth's uncle/trustee, Lord Farling, now lays down the law: if she wants to maintain control of the estate, Beth must partake of at least one London season--under the chaperone-ship of formidable (but dear) Mrs. Jane Westcott. So off goes the reluctant debutante, who does her best to alienate would-be suitors with unseemly chat (about camel dung!), phony life-stories (which conceal her wealth), and eccentric stunts--like walking her chickens on a leash while dressed to the nines. Still, though Beth's unfortunate behavior while crashing a phaeton race does indeed create a scandalous hush, she manages merely to become the talk of the ton--with Beau Brummel among her admirers. Only Jane's nephew Lord Alspeth seems truly immune to her rough charms. And after Beth goes out of her way (even getting abducted) to rescue Alspeth's young kinsman Jonny (a poor chump who's been led astray by the evil Major Cable), she'll win over Lord A., of course. . . chickens and all. Above-average Regency fun--losing some steam in Jonny's complications but exploiting the dandy reluctant-deb premise with crafty zest.

Pub Date: May 1, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Walker

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1983

Categories: FICTION