The Runaways (Regency Romance, Signet)

A delightful story by one of my favourite Regency writers, this is a two level story about young love, middle age regrets and second chances. Many years ago Harriet Winthrop-Bates was not allowed to marry the friend of her childhood, Marsh Pembroke. The Pembrokes were of dubious reputation and Marsh's future prospects were not particularly good. Harriet instead was married off in the fashion of the day to a poet who was older but perhaps not wiser and never really won her love. By a twist of fate and a number of unlooked for deaths, Marsh became the fabulously wealthy and influential Earl of Morland. However, in his anger and disappointment just before his accession to the earldom, he married a local girl who, though she loved him, never satisfied his own somewhat self-important requirements. Marsh has turned into a rather cold, arrogant and judgmental man who does not tolerate disobedience to his own wishes. These two have children: Harriet's 17 year old daughter, Lark, has fallen head over heels in infatuation with Andrew, Marsh's 19 year old, headstrong and immature son. They eventually run off to Gretna Green to escape the efforts of their respective parents to part them. Familiarity breeds contempt and they come to loathe the sight of each other as only two thwarted teenagers can. In the meantime, Marsh, rather out of his stern and upright character, gathers up Harriet to pursue the pair to Scotland. During this chase, they both realise how much they still love each other and, in the end, it is they who "marry over the anvil" in Gretna. A well-structured story with interesting characters, this is a five star read. Barbara Hazard writes extremely well and her characters are always three dimensional people whom you feel you would like to meet and pass time with. Morland is not always a sympathetic character and Harriet sometimes seems rather insipid but both are the products of their respective upbringings (c.f. Harriet's awful mother) and life experiences. I do recommend this, particularly if you are a fan of this very accomplished author.

Barbara Hazard's THE RUNAWAYS is a delightfully different Regency.After twenty years, widow Harriet Winthrop-Bates never thought she'd see Marsh Pembroke, Earl of Morland again--but here he is calling on her...and insisting that her daughter Lark has set her cap for his son and heir! When it is discovered that Lark and Drew are indeed quite in love and determined to marry even though neither is yet of age, Harriet and Marsh are equally determined to stop the match. Among other things, the marriage would mean that Harriet and Marsh would have to spend time together at various family gatherings. It's bad enough having to see each other at various social events this Season in London, for it only brings up memories of their own young love which ended abruptly two decades ago.Barbara Hazard deftly handles two love stories in one: the young people and the lengths to which they go to be together--a madcap whirlwind of infatuation; and their parents and the feelings that haven't died, even after a score of years and marriages to other people--a touching story of deep love grown stronger. In most romances, the reader knows what will happen, if not how; but here, it is uncertain till the end which couple (or both? or neither?) will end up together.This is a novel that should be required reading for everyone considering marriage--the story and themes are as true-to-life and applicable to modern audiences as they were to the people they depict nearly two centuries ago. Full of emotion, sympathetic characters, and the settings and facets of Regency life not often seen, THE RUNAWAYS is a book to be treasured, reread and kept on that special shelf of favorites.

Harriet and Morland, who had once been romantically involved but whose relationship had ended acrimoniously, come into contact again when his son elopes with her daughter. Neither of them - they are by now both widowed - is at all keen on renewing contact with the other, but find they have to join forces to prevent their offspring making a disastrous match.Thus, two former lovers and now bitter enemies are forced to spend several days in close confinement with each other. Although they at first try hard to maintain a facade of cool civility, as time goes on and frustrations increase they find it harder to stay away from the events of the past. What I liked about this book was the way we slowly got to know the main characters; the way in which Morland, who at first seemed a cold, bitter autocrat, is revealed to be a genuinely caring man who still loves Harriet. The resolution, by the time we catch up with the young runaway couple, is no surprise; but then, that's not the point of this book. It is a gentle study in relationships, misunderstandings and a mature couple who are given a second chance to make their relationship work.