Nearly a Lady

Nearly a Lady (2011) Alissa Johnson (Haverston Family)

Set in England and Scotland during the regency, after the wars with Napoleon.

Gideon Haverston has returned home from war with both physical scars and mental ones.

Gideon shifted his weight to his good leg, pivoted, knocked the barrel of the rifle away with one hand, and threw his other out in a fist.

Gideon had made one promise and one promise only. Never again would he be responsible for the well-being of another person.

Freddy and Lilly have spent twelve years struggling to survive on the remote estate to which they were sent after Freddy became the ward of Lord Haverston.

“I love you, Lilly Ilestone.” She planted a kiss on her cheek. “I’m sorry I was so rotten at breakfast.” Lilly returned the kiss.

“And I’m sorry I maneuvered you so unfairly into something you don’t want.”

“Sorry enough to—?”

“Not nearly.”

They are not inclined to believe Gideon when he arrives claiming he and his brother want to make amends foe the actions of their father and step-mother, but they gradually accept their circumstances have changed.

“Of course she’s ill,” Lilly said pleasantly. “You sent those custard-filled pastries.”

“Was something wrong with them?” Bloody hell, he’d poisoned the woman. “Can a person get sick from eating a stale pastry?”

“No,” Lilly assured him. “But a person can get sick from eating six fresh ones.”

Both are also going to have a season, no matter how little Freddie wants one.

This is a comfort read, one of my favorites.

Gideon Haverston, Winnefred Blythe, Lilly Ilestone, Thomas, Lady Gwen, Lucien Haverston

Rating: 9.5/10

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