Jason Cavendish, enjoying the title of Earl of Coventry, has to satisfy his late father's will by marrying Lady Jane, the daughter of a Classical scholar, whom he's never met. Promising his latest mistress that he'll marry this chit and leave her in the country, the aggrieved Jason heads off to his estate, spends his last single night carousing and turns up still drunk, to wed.

THE ELUSIVE WIFE manages to gain our sympathy for the irrepressible Jason, but then we see Lady Jane's point of view. Also known by her middle name Olivia, the girl has had no say in her life, and believes she is entitled to a proper marriage, not a groom so drunk he collapses before the wedding breakfast. Embarrassed and hung over, Jason heads back to London, where his friend Drake has no hesitation in reprimanding him. Jason agrees to wait until Jane has had time to calm down, then he'll go back and apologise. He can't even remember what she looks like.

Elizabeth, Lady Lansdowne, is an old school friend of Olivia and invites her to stay at her London townhouse and explain how she married the man who is currently the life of several parties. Elizabeth encourages Olivia to have new clothes made and send the bill to her husband. Nobody else is to know her married name. Furious when Jason doesn't recognise her at a ball, but flirts anyway, Olivia decides to have a good time at his expense. Then Jason asks his solicitor for an annulment....

The situation and characters are enjoyable to read. Neither protagonist appreciates being made a fool of, and while wealthy people did have liaisons, marriages were also taken seriously. The author Callie Hutton normally writes Western romance but has produced a rich historical story with several facets.

THE ELUSIVE WIFE is highly entertaining for Regency fans, with an unusual, action- filled ending.