This collection contains four novellas originally published in Signet's annual regency Christmas anthologies:
The Earl's Nightingale
The Hounds of Heaven (my alltime favorite Layton story)
The Rake's Christmas
The Dark Man
Very Christmasy, very well written, very enjoyable.
The Earl's Nightingale
The Hounds of Heaven (my alltime favorite Layton story)
The Rake's Christmas
The Dark Man
Very Christmasy, very well written, very enjoyable.
Originally published as separate books, these novellas have been out of print for many years.
The Earl's Nightingale -- VG
Eliza Dumont needs money and goes to a pawn shop for the best price. She is a gentle lady who supports herself and her mother by offering music lessons. The item she is pawning is a bejeweled mechanical bird in a cage. It was a gift from her late grandmother, who promised it would bring her happiness.
When Frauncis, the Earl of Elliott, sees the mechanical bird in the shop, he insists on buying it immediately. He needs an appropriate gift, but the recipient wants a ring (which he has no intention of giving).
When Eliza returns to buy back the item, she is horrified to find that it has been sold. He assures her he can retrieve the bird when she accosts the earl. However, it isn't so easy to do.
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The Hounds of Heaven -- VG
This is a story for dog lovers. Lord Thaddeus Rose, a wealthy bachelor, has decided to marry someone he considers a good choice. Therefore, he is stunned when she rejects his suit.
On his way home, Thaddeus is assaulted by robbers and is saved by a large puppy, who decides Thaddeus needs help. Before long, Thaddeus and the dog are inseparable. Thaddeus learns that it is wonderful to have someone love him unconditionally. This causes him to seriously dwell on what he wants from life.
The Rake's Christmas - E
This is a well-written tale about Ian, Viscount Hunt, who has recently returned from the Peninsular War. He is troubled by bad memories and does everything he can to distract himself from them. Lord Shelton, an older rake, asks Ian to attend a house party for Christmas at Moon Manor with him. Lord Shelton says he's delayed at the last minute and asks Ian to continue to the party, where he will meet him as soon as possible.
Poor relation Eve Thompkins is the woman Lord Shelton tells Ian about. When Ian arrives, he is instantly enchanted with Eve and spends considerable time with her. He starts with the intention of explaining to Eve that Lord Shelton has designs (of a disreputable nature) on her. Of course, Ian is quite a catch, and the other ladies are catty with Eve because they cannot understand why he spends time with a nobody. A lovely story.
The Dark Man -- G
This is the weakest of the four stories. Eve Swanson discovers her fiancée has a mistress and a long history of others, some in the ton. She is expected to meet them without rancor and act as if nothing has occurred in the past. When she breaks her engagement with the Earl of Poole, her family is horrified and sends her to her grandmother for a time.
In the meantime, the Earl of Poole learns from others that he always does what is proper and expected. When he realizes he needs to change his ways, he approaches Eve again. This one was similar to the HOUNDS OF HEAVEN but with much less charm.
The Earl's Nightingale -- VG
Eliza Dumont needs money and goes to a pawn shop for the best price. She is a gentle lady who supports herself and her mother by offering music lessons. The item she is pawning is a bejeweled mechanical bird in a cage. It was a gift from her late grandmother, who promised it would bring her happiness.
When Frauncis, the Earl of Elliott, sees the mechanical bird in the shop, he insists on buying it immediately. He needs an appropriate gift, but the recipient wants a ring (which he has no intention of giving).
When Eliza returns to buy back the item, she is horrified to find that it has been sold. He assures her he can retrieve the bird when she accosts the earl. However, it isn't so easy to do.
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The Hounds of Heaven -- VG
This is a story for dog lovers. Lord Thaddeus Rose, a wealthy bachelor, has decided to marry someone he considers a good choice. Therefore, he is stunned when she rejects his suit.
On his way home, Thaddeus is assaulted by robbers and is saved by a large puppy, who decides Thaddeus needs help. Before long, Thaddeus and the dog are inseparable. Thaddeus learns that it is wonderful to have someone love him unconditionally. This causes him to seriously dwell on what he wants from life.
The Rake's Christmas - E
This is a well-written tale about Ian, Viscount Hunt, who has recently returned from the Peninsular War. He is troubled by bad memories and does everything he can to distract himself from them. Lord Shelton, an older rake, asks Ian to attend a house party for Christmas at Moon Manor with him. Lord Shelton says he's delayed at the last minute and asks Ian to continue to the party, where he will meet him as soon as possible.
Poor relation Eve Thompkins is the woman Lord Shelton tells Ian about. When Ian arrives, he is instantly enchanted with Eve and spends considerable time with her. He starts with the intention of explaining to Eve that Lord Shelton has designs (of a disreputable nature) on her. Of course, Ian is quite a catch, and the other ladies are catty with Eve because they cannot understand why he spends time with a nobody. A lovely story.
The Dark Man -- G
This is the weakest of the four stories. Eve Swanson discovers her fiancée has a mistress and a long history of others, some in the ton. She is expected to meet them without rancor and act as if nothing has occurred in the past. When she breaks her engagement with the Earl of Poole, her family is horrified and sends her to her grandmother for a time.
In the meantime, the Earl of Poole learns from others that he always does what is proper and expected. When he realizes he needs to change his ways, he approaches Eve again. This one was similar to the HOUNDS OF HEAVEN but with much less charm.
