Prior Betrothal

I have read and re-read this book many times and always finish it with great satisfaction. While I enjoy today's racy Regencies, it is refreshing to return to a time when all those pages currently devoted to sex scenes are instead used to turn mere characters into living breathing people who live on in your imagination long after the novel ends. Clytie Flowers was adopted by her Uncle Ponty as an infant when her ramshackle father Reggie disappeared and her ancient regime mother died. The overbearing head of the family - the Earl of Vye - has forbidden anyone to recognize Reggie's "illborn brat," but Uncle Ponty is not quelled. However, when it comes time for the delightful Clytie to make her come-out, Uncle Ponty must implement a clever plot. Using an almost forgotten betrothal contract which scapegrace Reggie concocted years ago with his friend the future Duke of Banglor, Uncle Ponty inveigles the powerful - an very handsome - current Duke of Banglor into his plan to circumvent obnoxious Vye. This charming and delightful tale moves from the rural English countryside to glittering society London and on to Brussels and the Battle of Waterloo. Peopled with a plethora of fascinaing characters who speak their minds with great verve and wit, this is one book which proves it is possible to write a great romance with no more than a kiss.

Although I doubt that anyone will ever manage to top Georgette Heyer at Regency novels, Elsie Lee comes closer than anyone else I've read and Prior Betrothal is one of her best. With the exception of the uncle who adopted her, Clytie Flower has been disowned by her family on the instructions of the head of family. However, on discovering a betrothal agreement signed by her father and the late Duke of Banglor, between her and the duke's heir, her uncle comes up with the idea of trading the duke an unbetrothal in exchange for the assistance of the dowager duchess in bringing Clytie out. The result is a charming and charmingly funny novel.