Many moons ago, I came across a list of all Mary Balogh’s books, ranked in order from best to worst, from 1 down to number 48. It only went up to the mid-2010s, so not definitive, but it was a strong indication of which of her early works were worth reading and which might safely be passed over. Some of them I managed to track down and read, but far too many just weren’t available on Kindle in the UK, including the two top-rated books. And now they are. At long last, the Bedwyns series (Slightly…) is out on the Kindle. I’ve scooped up the whole series, and also the similarly unavailable Simply… series, and am prepared to settle in for some serious catchup reading, starting here with book 1 (although there are two prequels, which I have in fact read).
Here’s the premise: Colonel Lord Aidan Bedwyn’s life was saved by a junior officer, Percy Morris, so when Percy dies in battle, he asks Aidan to take care of his sister, ‘no matter what’. Aidan visits Eve Morris at her home to convey the news of Percy’s death, and to ask what service he may render her, to fulfil Percy’s dying wish. She refuses his aid, but he then finds out that she’s about to be turned out of her home, along with all the waifs and strays she acquired over the years (because she’s a pretty modern do-gooding woman beneath her Regency bonnet). In one of those quirky wills so beloved of Regency authors, her father left her the estate and fortune for one year only. If she marries within the year, it stays hers, otherwise it goes to her brother, Percy, or failing that, to an unpleasant cousin. There are just four days before cousin Cecil inherits, but Aidan knows where his duty lies; within hours, he’s whisked Eve off to London for a special licence and a hasty wedding. After that, they’ll separate for good. A true marriage of convenience.
I did wonder why they bothered to go up to London for a special licence when they could have had a bishop’s licence from the nearest cathedral city, since they married in church anyway, but still, it gave them an opportunity for some sightseeing (aka bonding) before returning to her home. He stays for a few days to see off the unpleasant cousin and enjoy a dance at a celebration ball (the mourning for her brother is glossed over a bit too easily, frankly; she really shouldn’t be dancing but never mind).
Aidan finally takes off for his own home, planning never to mention his marriage to a soul, since his brother the Duke of Bewcastle would hardly approve. Too bad, then, that while in London he’d bumped into a military acquaintance and introduced Eve as his wife. So the secret is soon out, and lo and behold, Lord and Lady Aidan are invited to a celebration dinner at Carlton House with the Prince of Wales. Wulf (the duke) is determined that Lady Aidan will be there and won’t disgrace the Bedwyn name, and what Wulf wants, he usually gets.
I confess that the early chapters, setting up the marriage that everyone knows is coming (it’s right there in the blurb), were a bit slow. I appreciated that we weren’t dumped with the whole Bedwyn family all at once, which would have been a bit much, but on the other hand, the whole book perks up a great deal once Wulf and co get involved. And once Eve is persuaded up to London to be transformed into a society lady, the tension between the Eve and Aidan, and between Wulf and everyone, ramps up to eleven.
Just to complicate things, there are previous loves to be taken into account, one serious (for Eve) and one more nebulous (for Aidan), and the unpleasant cousin hasn’t entirely given up his meddling. So lots to be unravelled before our hero and heroine settle down to their saccharine-sweet life of domestic bliss.
Like all Mary Balogh’s books, there is sex in fairly graphic detail, although tastefully done, and it’s not excessive. I didn’t notice any horrible anachronisms or excessive Americanisms, although the spelling of ‘honor’ jumped out at me every time, and there was one mention of ‘passing’ instead of death. It is a wonderful read (it’s Mary Balogh, for heaven’s sake, so of course it is) and it gets the emotional depth pitch perfect. I wouldn’t actually have rated this the second-best book she’s ever written, as my ranked list shows, and that slow start keeps it to a very good four stars.
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