Frederica in Fashion

This is the last and shortest book in Ms Chesney's Six Sisters series. As usual, it is written with humor, jeopardy and a keen sense of the Regency period, so named for when the mad king George III was represented by his son, the prince ("Prinny") as regent. Prinny actually appears now and then, but never with a speaking part. A small town rector, more interested in fox hunting than salvation, happens to have six attractive daughters, each of whom marries into money and prestige. The reader sort of knows that each story will have a happy ending, so it's not possible to give away the denouement. What makes these books worthwhile are the excellent writing, the atmosphere, and the author's knowledge. I must say Ms Chesney has a superb vocabulary and she never apologizes for it. If the reader won't look up a strange word, that's the reader's fault. For example, the word cicisbeo. I must admit that I didn't know that one--and a few others. I know now what they mean. I was sorry to finish this, and I'd read anything by this writer, including her mysteries under the name M.C. Beaton.

Marion Chesney's series "The Six Sisters" concludes with "Frederica in Fashion" (our library only had the first five volumes, so I had to buy this one; fortunately, it is the originally hardback edition, so we can now donate it so our library will have the complete set). As readers of this series of romances set in Regency England already know, Frederica is the youngest daughter of the Reverend Armitage, the country vicar who spends most of his time drinking and hunting. Freddie is considered the ugly duckling of the family, although when she was younger it seemed she might turn into a beauty. Now she is timid and shy, hiding herself behind dowdy clothes and a less than genteel manner. Usually what happens at this point is that the reverend needs money for some reason having to do with hunting, but this time Chesney takes a different tack because following the death of his wife the vicar announces his intention to marry again, having selected Sarah Millet, the young vicarage maid. Freddie's five older sisters, all of whom have wildly successful marriages (from both the standpoint of money and love), gather for a council of war on how to bring Frederica into fashion (hence, the title). But while each sister is busy trying to find a husband for her, Frederica decides to bolt before she is sent off to Season in London. In fact, that is where the novel begins, with Freddie leaving a letter for Minerva that reads in part: "since there is no hope of my securing an Eligible Parit due to my sad lack of looks...I am Running Away." Then she escapes. Of course, the idea that Frederica is an ugly duckling tells you where this one is going, and Chesney certainly plays with the idea that the youngest of the Armitage girls might actually make the best match of the bunch. Disguised as a chambermaid, Frederica ends up working as a chambermaid in the household of the Duke of Pembury (a.k.a. the "Wicked Duke"), who sees through her disguise and takes her to London for the Season she never wanted to have. But once there, the young Miss Armitage fails to hold his interest because every time he sees her she either has her head in a book or is sitting, dumb and embarrassed, at his dinner table. Then there is occasion for a kiss that changes everything. Readers of the series who have become accustomed to the period details of the earlier novels will find more of the same here as Chesney presents a realistic depiction of 19th century England, even as she is having great fun with her characters. The plots remain rather intricate and her affection for the characters is clear from start to finish. Plus, at the end of this one she brings the Armitage family together so that as they celebrate the betrothal of the sixth and final sister we can once again have Annabelle find a way to be the center of attention and for Lady Godolphin to get in a final joke about "how some folks always get the words wrong!" This is a fun little series and while no one is arguing

This is one of the best of the six sisters series. Believable characters, deft storytelling and a charming hero and heroine make this book as well as Diana the Huntress the very best in the six sisters series. Poor lonely Frederica, the youngest of the six famous Armitage sisters (famous for their beauty and legendary for their successful marriages)believes herself to be no beauty at all and have absolutely no charm whatsoever. She decides never to marry as she finds her brothers-in-law to be a trifle overwhelming and prefers to stick her nose into books and her head in the clouds. Frederica runs away from school to find peace and solitude on her own, but her isolated tranquility is shattered when she catches the eye of the Duke of Pembury also known as the Wicked Duke. Don't waste your money on the other sisters' stories.