Regency Match

Another good book by Mansfield. It's a fun story and worth the read.

I highly recommend this one. Our intrepid heroine contrives to be the "shatterbrained hysteric" that the hero thinks she is.

First of all, thank you to Berkley/Jove for continuing to release the wonderful, older books by Elizabeth Mansfield, as well as bringing out the occasional new one. This book dates to May, 1980 in its original version, but it is still a delight to read. The authors tell-tale skill with witty dialogue is present in abundance in this tale of a spirited young woman and the quiet young man she encounters. Each encounter is more hilarious than the last, as Sophie Edgerton creates disturbances without even trying. Of course, when she does try-sparks fly all over the place. Unable to live with her father and step-mother, Sophie has come to live with her widowed grandmother, Lady Alicia, in London. But Sophie's escapades begin to wear thin when she enthusiastically greets a gentleman at a ball. Truly, she thought she was greeting her cousin Bertie, who has just returned from several years away. Unfortunately, she guessed wrong, and the unsuspecting gentleman who received the hugs was the retiring Earl of Wynwood, Marcus Harvey. As is usually the case, after this first meeting, subsequent ones also tend toward disaster, leaving Sophie determined to take a repairing lease to the country, even if it has to be at her own home. But then Lady Alicia shows the girl an invitation she's just received. It's for a two-week house party, from Lady Alicia's dearest friend. Not until later does Sophie discover that the dearest friend is also the Mama of Marcus. Unsettled by the growing attraction Sophie feels towards Marcus, she still also has the inclination for mischief, especially when Marcus announces his engagement to the eminently suitable Miss Iris Bethune. Unable to appreciate the impending marriage, Sophie runs away to her father's house, and the religious step-mother. Rescued by Marcus, who neglects to tell her that his betrothal has been called off by Iris, Sophie is distant and cold to him, causing more misunderstandings. Eventually, however, all things turnabout, and the resulting Regency Match is more satisfying than most. Great fun!

He's a very proper and somewhat stiff gentleman while she is impulsive, emotional, and prone to become involved in catastophes of one sort or another. They meet when Sophia throws her arms aruond Marcus at a ball, thinking he is the cousin she has not seen for many years. Their second meeting is just as embarrassing for him and leaves Marcus sure in his mind that she is nothing more then a shatterbrained hysteric. And when she happens to over hear his comments, her indignation for his slurs on her character prompt her to concoct a plan to teach him a lesson when she and her grandmother, along with a handful of other guests, are invited to his estate by his mother.It is to be a celebration as her son is soon to be married to a docile miss he considers just the sort of woman a man should marry. Definately, not like the disastrous Miss Sophia. As evidenced by her catching fire to his property and causing him(quite inadvertantly) bodily injury. But feelings soon change and the sparks fly.The resulting story is a witty, humorous, and quite entertaining romp into the world of Regency England. The two protaganist are true to their characters. The plot moved the story continually forward making one eager to see what was going to happen next.I thoroughly enjoyed her book and have read it three times already. It has never failed to make me laugh despite the familiarity. I recommend it to anyone.