The Queen Bee (Signet Regency Romance)

Merry and Edward fall madly and sweetly in love while he is visiting Bath. She is affectionate, kind, intelligent and beautiful! Who wouldn't fall in love with her! They become engaged and Edward takes her to visit his "Maman" in London to plan the wedding. Merry mistakes Lady Gloriana, Edward's beautiful, dainty pixie-like mother as his sister! Lady Gloriana is thrilled and we realize later in the book, looking youthful is her only goal in life. Lady Gloriana "loves" Merry and takes her under her wings and begins to show her the "good" life in London. So good a life, she convinces them to NOT announce their engagement so Merry might have a "come-out" instead. A new short haircut for Merry, bright revealing clothing, even an odd shade of hair dye all for her soon-to-be daughter-in-law. "Maman" introduces Merry to fast friends and other young men, keeping her up and busy and late to appointments with Edward. Sharing the horrors of marriage and "hints" about Edward's hidden vices. What a wonderful woman ... are you beginning to get the picture??? Edward's young sister, Jane, is an enigma, lost in herself, avoiding contact and friendship with Merry or others. Looking the giant next to her petite mother, "Tiny" as her mother calls her, eats her way through each unhappy and frustrating day. Edward wonders why his lovely and passionate fiance avoids him. Why she no longer accepts his flowers or his rather innocent kisses. He cannot put his finger on it as the wedding is postponed for one reason or another. Will he ever guess the truth? Secondary characters and situations are a joy to read about in this book. Barbara Hazard is one of my favorite authors and this is another carefully written and wonderful book. All of her characters are wonderfully drawn. You can see them in your mind's eye right down to Lady Gloriana's little skip when she moves from room to room. The use of letters in some instances is an interesting addition. Great reading, right down to the end.