Counterfeit Ladyby Dawn MacTavishreviewed by Leanne DavisNovember 2009, 291 pages, Publisher: Leisure, ISBN: 0843963212 Back Cover Blurb: “NO, MY LADY, I COULDN'T - ”
But Alice could - and did. Against her better judgment, she allowed herself one night at a masquerade ball, playing the role of her mistress. When else might she, daughter of an austere Methodist minister and a servant, sample the pleasures of the ton? She had but one obligation: deter the coxcomb and would-be suitor, Nigel Farnham.
She vanished in a swish of buttery silk and left behind the scent of sweet clover and violets. Mischievous and bold, Lady Clara Langly was a chit who desperately needed to be taken in hand - but she had left Nigel abruptly, fled into the night, and he'd had no chance to see her pretty face unmasked. If he was right, and dancing was nothing but making love to music, their quadrille was just the beginning….
Alice Jessop is the daughter of a strict Methodist minister who, when given the choice of marrying one of her father's congregation or go into service, chooses service as a companion to Lady Clara Langly. Lady Clara is to have her season under the aegis of her aunt, Lady Langly, but Regina Langly has stayed behind at their country cottage while she conquers her latest bout of rheumatism. Lady Clara uses this opportunity to carry on with an earl she met previously. Her aunt wants her to meet the Earl of Romney - a different earl - but Clara is determined to avoid the meeting.
Clara convinces a reluctant Alice to take her place at a masque given by the Countess of Pembroke. She dances once with Nigel Farnham, the Earl of Romney and is stunned by his appearance since it is completely different than she was told. Nigel is enchanted with the young lady and sets out to charm her. When she runs away from him before the unmasking, he sets out to learn more about her.
Alice returns from the masque sure that she will be discovered and condemned for her masquerade. In the morning, she learns that Lady Clara has not returned from her assignation. Alice must fend off the Earl of Romney and the Countess of Pembroke. When Lady Clara returns, she has changed her mind about the Earl of Romney and tries to catch his attention, but he is now focused on Alice.
Nigel Farnham is one of the most eligible bachelors in England and is surprisingly drawn to the person he believes to be Lady Clara. When he discovers the truth of the deception, he realizes that Alice tried to tell him the truth. Just because he refused to listen, doesn't mean he should take it out on her. He's also not going to fall for the machinations of Lady Clara and her aunt. Despite the fact that his best friend is warning him away from Alice as being is unsuitable to be his lady, Nigel is determined to win her hand.
The path to love will not be smooth. As Alice is mocked by the ton and her father refuses to listen to the truth, Alice take steps to avoid the fate her father has in store while Nigel finds it is harder to win his lady's hand than he would have thought.
From the first chapter, I found the whole plot improbable. Alice and Nigel are good characters surrounded by a bunch of cardboard cutout secondary characters. Lady Clara and her aunt are selfish, carping, malicious characters who care only about appearances. Alice's father is a judgmental, bitter, unforgiving man. Unfortunately, the fact that I liked Alice and Nigel wasn't enough to keep me engrossed in the story.
We are told that a young woman who grew up in a restrictive Methodist household is a suitable companion to a young lady of quality. She has exceptional manners and can pass for a young lady of breeding and education. Then we are supposed to believe that nothing can deter this earl from his heart's desire. There are events in the book that made the story even more improbable but would be spoilers for other readers, so I won't mention them here. Overall, I found this book to be slow reading because I had such a hard time to get past the improbable situations.
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