I have read almost every book she has written and this is one of my favorites. Merrie Trelawney reminded me of a milder female version of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and I loved her. As the back cover said, he considered her an insipid church mouse and that is exactly what she wanted all to think, while she was busy as a smuggler. They are a great pair and the story will keep your interest all the way. I loved it and definitely recommend it for a great read.
Meredith Trelawney, has had to resort to smuggling in order to pay off the debts of her deceased, spendthrift husband and restore the family estate. But she also relishes the challenge and excitement it brings her. Something that Damien, Lord Rutherford notices when he spies an encounter between Merrie's band of smugglers and the Crown revenuers. He's come to Cornwall to look over an estate left to him by a distant relative and to try to relieve the boredom into which his life has sunk since his involuntary retirement from soldiering in the Peninsula. When he meets Merrie in company, he first thinks she's a dowdy widow then begins to see the game she plays with her neighbors to throw them off the scent of what she really does. He's not stupid and quickly puts the pieces together as he begins to fall in love with this unusual and delightful woman. Merrie quickly starts to return his affections even if she resists the idea
of anything permanent between them. After all, he is the heir of a Duke and her lineage can't begin to match his. Damien refuses to give up and plots her downfall into matrimony. Sparks fly, wills collide, and the action moves to London as Damien and Merrie battle each other on the path to their future.
of anything permanent between them. After all, he is the heir of a Duke and her lineage can't begin to match his. Damien refuses to give up and plots her downfall into matrimony. Sparks fly, wills collide, and the action moves to London as Damien and Merrie battle each other on the path to their future.
Her auburn hair tucked into a severe chignon, dressed in a shabby brown bombazine, Merrie trelawney was the picture of dowdy widowhood and sober respectability. No one would guess that those demurely lowered eyelids hid a sparkle of pure adventure. Or that the white hands so modestly folded in her lap could handle a sword as well as any man. Certainly, no one would ever suspect her of being the notorious leader of the smugglers band who called themselves The Gentlemen. Lord Rutherford who had just inherited some property in thsi godforsaken corner of Cornwall, looked upon thelocal gentry with distaste. The man were pompous and stuffy, and the women, that Merrie Trelawney, for example, were utterly insipid. How that auburn haired church mouse had managed to best him in their verbal sparring, was completely beyond him. But if she thought that he was finished with her, she was sadly mistaken. Something about her struck a false note. And though he was not in the habit of seducing country windows, it might make an interesting change at that.
One of my favorite Jane Feather stories.Adventure and romance!!
From the back:
Her auburn hair tucked into a sever chignon, dressed in a shabby brown bombazine, Merrie Trelawney was the picture of dowdy widowhood and sober respectability. Certainly, no one would ever suspect her of being the notorious leader of the smugglers' band who called themselves "The Gentlemen"...
Her auburn hair tucked into a sever chignon, dressed in a shabby brown bombazine, Merrie Trelawney was the picture of dowdy widowhood and sober respectability. Certainly, no one would ever suspect her of being the notorious leader of the smugglers' band who called themselves "The Gentlemen"...
Our heroine, Meredith Trelawney, has had to resort to smuggling in order to pay off the debts of her deceased, spendthrift husband and restore the family estate. But
she also relishes the challenge and excitement it brings her. Something that
Damien, Lord Rutherford notices when he spies an encounter between Merrie's
band of smugglers and the Crown revenuers. He's come to Cornwall to look
over an estate left to him by a distant relative and to try to relieve the boredom
into which his life has sunk since his involuntary retirement from soldiering in
the Peninsula.
When he meets Merrie in company, he first thinks she's a dowdy widow then
begins to see the game she plays with her neighbors to throw them off the
scent of what she really does. He's not stupid and quickly puts the pieces
together as he begins to fall in love with this unusual and delightful woman.
Merrie quickly starts to return his affections even if she resists the idea
of anything permanent between them. After all, he is the heir of a Duke
and her lineage can't begin to match his. Damien refuses to give up and
plots her downfall into matrimony. Sparks fly, wills collide, and the
action moves to London as Damien and Merrie battle each other on the
path to a HEA.
she also relishes the challenge and excitement it brings her. Something that
Damien, Lord Rutherford notices when he spies an encounter between Merrie's
band of smugglers and the Crown revenuers. He's come to Cornwall to look
over an estate left to him by a distant relative and to try to relieve the boredom
into which his life has sunk since his involuntary retirement from soldiering in
the Peninsula.
When he meets Merrie in company, he first thinks she's a dowdy widow then
begins to see the game she plays with her neighbors to throw them off the
scent of what she really does. He's not stupid and quickly puts the pieces
together as he begins to fall in love with this unusual and delightful woman.
Merrie quickly starts to return his affections even if she resists the idea
of anything permanent between them. After all, he is the heir of a Duke
and her lineage can't begin to match his. Damien refuses to give up and
plots her downfall into matrimony. Sparks fly, wills collide, and the
action moves to London as Damien and Merrie battle each other on the
path to a HEA.
A "lower" level Lady is widowed and left with debt and responsible for the raising of three younger brothers - what is she to do? Become a smuggler of course. Up until now, she has done nicely, keeping her brothers at Harrow school, paying off the debt that threatens to take away her land.
When she meets Lord Damian Rutherford she knows she is in trouble. She falls for the Lord knowing that a smuggler can never make a Lord happy. She keeps trying to make Damian let her go, while he keeps trying to convince her that she doesn't have to make others happy in order for her to be happy.
Can they get on the same wave length and make it work when her plans don't include him and his plans only include her?
When she meets Lord Damian Rutherford she knows she is in trouble. She falls for the Lord knowing that a smuggler can never make a Lord happy. She keeps trying to make Damian let her go, while he keeps trying to convince her that she doesn't have to make others happy in order for her to be happy.
Can they get on the same wave length and make it work when her plans don't include him and his plans only include her?
This book was just okay for me. Couldn't really get into it.
I really enjoyed this very different Lord and Lady romance. Merrie was a very different type of lady having spent her life in the Cornish coastal community. Really enjoyed her brothers and her hard to imagine smuggling lifestyle but it fit the story well and made for intriguing interest from the newly arrived Lord. Towards the end I felt a bit frustrated with the heroine for being so stubborn and irrational at times. I liked that I could not guess the ending at all and was happy the author finally made some sense out of two hard headed people!
very good read. loved the ending
Lord Rutherford inherited property in Cornwall, finding a young widow in dowdy clothing with wit and sharp intellect with a best kept secret, most tempting to uncover.
