Gareth St. Clair is the favorite Grandson of Lady Danbury
and quite exceptional according to her. Her other twelve
living grandchildren don't have three brains between them,
her words not mine.
Hyacinth Bridgerton is the youngest child of the Bridgerton
family. Hyacinth is outspoken, honest to a fault,
headstrong, and being subtle has never entered her mind.
Hyacinth is usually the smartest person in a room and she
refuses to play stupid in order to snare a husband. But,
she is beginning to feel the pressure since she is entering
her forth season and her marriage proposals have become
non-existent.
The book begins with Gareth, at age of 19, being told by his
father that he must marry in order to save the family
financially. As the second son, his father has chosen the
daughter of a neighboring estate. Gareth is shocked, the
young lady in question is Mary Wrotham, simple minded and
very child-like. Gareth has always protected Mary from
bullies and refuses to marry her because it is wrong and he
does not believe she even knows what it is to be a wife.
Lord St. Clair informs Gareth that he owes him and that his
older brother is the heir, obviously he cannot sully the
bloodline. He also says, if he does not marry the girl that
he will be cut off financially and he will no longer be
welcome in the family home. When asked, how he can do this,
Lord St. Clair informs Gareth that he is some by-blow his
mother fostered on him.
Gareth goes to Lady Danbury and tells her his father has
thrown him out. Lady D could have used her powers as a
Countess to force Lord St. Clair to take his son back but
she tells him that she had rather keep him for herself.
Gareth feels that Lady D would stand up and cheer if she
knew that he was not a true St. Clair, she has never liked
her son-in-law and routinely refers to him as "that pompous
idiot". Gareth does not want his grandmother to know that
her youngest daughter was an adulteress. Lady D paid for
Gareth to attend Cambridge and then informs him that he has
a small bequest from his mother.
Lady D coerces Gareth into attending the annual Smythe-Smith
musical and very slyly arranges for Hyacinth to be seated
next to him. Gareth loves his grandmother to a fault but
believes Hyacinth is a lot like her and that the world can
only stand on Lady D.
After Gareth's brother passes away, his widow brings him a
diary that George wanted him to have. The diary belonged to
his maternal grandmother who was Italian. Since Lord St.
Clair does not like to be reminded of his lineage, he did
not have his children instructed on how to speak Italian and
refused to learn himself. Gareth takes the diary to Lady D
since she knows just about everything and everyone. He needs
a translator who can be discreet and hopes the diary
contains information about his true father. Hyacinth is at
Lady D's home when Gareth inquires about a translator and
volunteers for the job. Lady D loves the idea since this
will keep the couple together.
I hated that this story had to end. I loved the dialogue
between Gareth and Hyacinth. I like books where the female
lead has a say in her future and drives the man nuts because
she won't be bullied. Hyacinth knows what she wants and she
knows how to go about getting it. I also liked the way she
stands up for Gareth when she learns of his birth. This is
a nice relaxing book that lets you really get to know the
characters. This book does not contain a lot of action but
it makes up for it in humor. Of course Lady D is back with
her famous cane and opinions.
I hope Ms. Quinn doesn't wait too long before she does
Gregory's story. This is the 7th book in the Bridgerton
Series. It is also the 2nd book about Lady Danbury's family.
Gareth St. Clair is in a bind. His father, who detests
him, is determined to beggar the St. Clair estates and ruin
his inheritance. Gareth's sole bequest is an old family
diary, which may or may not contain the secrets of his
past... and the key to his future. The problem is -- it's
written in Italian, of which Gareth speaks not a word.
Meet Our Heroine...
All the ton agreed: there was no one quite like Hyacinth
Bridgerton. She's fiendishly smart, devilishly outspoken,
and according to Gareth, probably best in small doses. But
there's something about her -- something charming and vexing
-- that grabs him and won't quite let go...
Meet Poor Mr. Mozart...
Or don't. But rest assured, he's spinning in his grave
when Gareth and Hyacinth cross paths at the annual -- and
annually discordant -- Smythe-Smith musicale. To Hyacinth,
Gareth's every word seems a dare, and she offers to
translate his diary, even though her Italian is slightly
less than perfect. But as they delve into the mysterious
text, they discover that the answers they seek lie not in
the diary, but in each other... and that there is nothing as
simple -- or as complicated -- as a single, perfect kiss.
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