A Radical Arrangement

Margaret Mayfield is a young timid woman, who has no opinions of her own on anything, not even her upcoming wedding to Phillip Manningham. She is the product of her overbearing parents. So one evening when her mother warns her to stay away from their neighbor Sir Justin Keighley, because he is immoral, untrustworthy, as well as him having shocking political views she heeds her mother's warning and tries not to even look at him while he is at their home for a dinner party. But when she decides to not continue to the stables with the rest of the dinner party, Sir Justin appears and with his arrogant manner of flirting Margaret becomes hysterical due to her mother's severe warnings and she runs away to the summer home where she tears her dress and then knocks herself unconscious on the floor. When Sir Justin comes upon her he is in the process of pulling her skirt down below her knees to make her position more appropriate when the rest of the party arrives and assumes the worst. With her parents screaming she has been compromised and demanding that Sir Justin marry her. But Sir Justin refuses her parent wishes. When Margaret thinks she will have to marry this terrible immoral man she runs away. When her mother finds out she goes to Sir Justin and lies about the circumstances and he ends up feeling sorry for her so he sets out to find her and bring her home. When he finally catches up to her she shoots him and then makes up a story about highway men so she isn't arrested. Since Sir Justin is unconscious she gets help and says they are brother and sister.
This is a sweet endearing regency romance story. It is a well written story with twists and turns as well as drama along the way. Over the course of being away from her parents you will get to see a new Margaret emerge as she sees what the outside world around her is about and she finds her voice and her self. Will Sir Justin Keighley find what he is looking for? You will have to read this story to find out.
Received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I remember seeing this title years ago, before I started obsessing over historic romance, and passing it by as a ‘not my thing’ title. Now some 30 years after originally published, the story has a quaint retro feel, laden with dramatic moments while adhering more closely to the societal expectations of the time.

But, this was a fun and light read nonetheless. A bit dated, this story has Margaret: a little sheltered, a lot naïve and quite prone to missish-ness and the very patient Justin. Margaret took a bit to appreciate, she’s more afraid of her own shadow and imaginings than one should believe possible, and it takes her a while to grow up and get some sense. But, I had to repeatedly remind myself that she was an example of the women of her day: of whom little is expected, little is offered. And while she was given opportunities fitting with her position, she was little more than a woman to be married off advantageously for both husband and family.

Sir Justin was a bit more enjoyable, and his eye-roll worthy responses to Margaret and her father’s dramatics. With a reputation as a rake, but very little evidence to that effect, Justin is honorable, honest and quite enjoyable. He wants the best foil for the dramatics, miscommunications, a runaway fiancé and a wonderful character in the form of midwife Mrs. Dowling.

A fun jaunt that will entertain and amuse, and a great chance to see the similarities and differences in romance then and now.

I received an eBook copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.