THE WAGERED WIDOW

by Patricia Veryan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 27, 1984

A hum-drum, ho-hum Regency romance, with more twitter than glitter, centering on the marriage hopes of beautiful widow Rebecca Parrish, mother of a small son. Rebecca, aided by plump little Aunt Alby, is in pursuit of Sir Peter Ward, introduced to her by her ""happy-go-lucky"" brother Snowden. But Rebecca will also reluctantly become acquainted with rudely staring Hon. Trevelyan de Villars, obviously one to be watched. (Trevelyan is wearing, when first glimpsed, ""a caped cloak of dark red silk flung carelessly back""--and he has that look which eventually reduces Regency heroines to jelly: ""never had she seen such cold grey eyes, nor so mockingly cynical an expression."") And it's Trevelyan, of course, who makes the sordid wager with Sir Peter: that Trevelyan can seduce Rebecca, proving to Peter that she would not make the right sort of spouse. There are visits to Peter's estate in Bedfordshire for Rebecca--and affairs where Trevelyan (the dog) is seen with ""The Monahan,"" a naughty lady-of-fortune, on his arm. Soon Rebecca and Aunt Alby are enchanted--when, thanks to some mysterious intervention, they're invited to Bedfordshire to assist Peter's ward Miss Patience Ashton, who's about to ""come out."" (The ladies are somewhat taken aback when Miss Patience turns out to be four years old, but they are delighted with their luxurious ""cottage"" on the estate.) Eventually all sorts of entertainments take place--including some Jacobite stirrings. (Rebecca and Snowden are in sympathy.) And before the wager is settled, there'll be a duel (Trevelyan is surprisingly inept); hijinks and balls at Peter's estate; and a search-and-destroy Jacobite hunt--in which Rebecca proves to be a heroine, discovering a lost brother and a true love. Thin but industrious.

Pub Date: Aug. 27, 1984

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1984

Categories: FICTION