Scandal's Lady (Zebra Regency Romance)

I seem to have read a few of Mary Kingsley's books just recently - I raided a UBS during my last visit to the USA and came away with a number of her older titles. This one was a satisfying but not particularly memorable read and suffered from a few little things which prevented it fulfilling the author's intentions.It is a story of a slightly soiled heroine reduced to governessing as a result of a scandal during her London season when she surrendered to the wiles of an experienced and somewhat distasteful man-about-the-ton. Cassandra Aldrich has, however, finally fetched up with a family with five daughters of varying degrees of niceness and nastiness. One day she learns that the new Earl of Lynton who was a childhood object of worship has taken up residence at his family seat. Not in the direct line of the succession, Nicholas St John was a boy sailor who went to sea very young as many did in the times of the Napoleonic wars and so never acquired the ton polish of his contemporaries or a direct heir.They meet again and, although you know they will eventually come together, sometimes Nicholas, for all his sensitivity, is a real disappointment for his mannerisms, way of speech and actions are a little contrived. He never really rings true as a desirable man to me. I think the author failed a little with him and the Cassie Aldrich is a better rounded character. She is a more mature individual and we get to know her much better than Nicholas.This book also contains The Big Misunderstanding - a somewhat trite device here because it is used to raise the whole issue of double standards and, sadly, not quite successfully. Within the frame of Regency morals and ethics, the issue seemed slightly out of synch and context in the way it was handled. Too bad; a missed opportunity perhaps. Jo Beverley does it better!I have a few more of her early books to read. Certainly Marrying Miss Bumblebroth was delightful and it has been interesting to read the alpha and the omega of her output. Definitely worth reading but not a keeper.