Elisabeth Elham has been on her own since her father's
death, and an inheritance from his curmudgeonly brother
comes as a complete surprise. She soon finds herself in a
whirlwind of London parties and country house renovations. A
chance meeting with her new neighbor, Derek Wincannon,
becomes a courtship, and despite her insistence that she's
past the age for a come-out, he's not the only gentleman
vying for her hand.
In LAST GENTLEMAN STANDING, author Jane Ashford gives us a
wonderfully diverting cast of characters. The variety of
attitudes and expressions is definitely a strong point.
Elisabeth has a dry sense of humor and is easily amused by
all the ton's goings on. Her younger cousins, Belinda and
Tony, are exuberant in their inexperience, and her older
cousin, Lavinia, is just a hoot. Two older ladies who take
the family under their wings are as different as can be, but
they are invaluable to Elisabeth and her charges. The
servants and other minor characters are distinctive and
engaging. Even the dog has personality.
It's also refreshing to have an entire family who grew up
outside of society now navigating its strictures. Tony and
Belinda, in particular, are eager to visit all the places
they've heard about but never seen -- from Almack's to
Tattersall's.
The plot soon takes a darker turn, with a series of mishaps
putting Elisabeth and her family's lives in danger. The
mystery is quite intriguing as it develops, although the
primary villain is fairly obvious, which is my one criticism
of the book.
By the end, we have two bonus love matches, one of which
spoils my vision for a series built around the Elham
cousins. Still, I give LAST GENTLEMAN STANDING an
enthusiastic recommendation for readers who enjoy historical
romances.
Miss Elisabeth Elham is an unlikely heiress. She never knew
the curmudgeonly uncle who died suddenly and left her a
fortune. She's proud, outspoken and independent―a definite
challenge for London's fortune hunting suitors.
As various determined gentlemen vie for her attention at
balls, routs, picnics and parties, Elisabeth finds herself
embroiled with a charming rake, a mysterious nabob, and an
elegant neighbor. This would all be great fun, if only she
wasn't so fascinated by the one man in London who's not
trying to woo her...
Originally titled Bluestocking, this story has been
unavailable for over 25 years.
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