The Wild Rose Press
Featuring: Lady Samantha Grayson; Lord Paul Russell
64 pages ISBN: 1628303670 EAN: 9781628303674 Kindle: B00L2IZ69Y e-Book Add to Wish List
Lady Samantha Grayson can't help noticing a gentleman at
the ball but this London season she has to mind what
people
think of herself and her younger sister. She can't
introduce herself to a man. In BETTER THAN A PRESENT Lord
Paul Russell also heeds the formalities of needing a lady
known to both parties to introduce him to the charming
young lady. Before he can find one he is summoned to his
estate home in Cornwall to instruct his steward; he's a
more responsible estate owner than some.
When Samantha next sees the object of her admiration, he
is
in a lit country cottage and she's out in the snowfall on
Christmas Eve, wearing a groom's trousers, cap and heavy
coat, having been thrown by her horse when unwisely riding
alone. There's no chaperone. What a dilemma!
BETTER THAN A PRESENT is a short story which initially
leans on narration rather than interaction. When the main
parties strike up conversation, amusingly one of them is a
girl pretending to be a boy and the other is a man
pretending he doesn't know who she is. This being the
case,
Paul is able to mention casually that his sister is
expecting a child, which he would not normally discuss
with
a young lady. This scene would be well suited to a stage
play.
A Wassail Bowl of spiced wine warmed over roasted apples
is
a lovely touch for a southwest country drink, and goose is
certainly appropriate for Christmas dinner. In draughty
stone country houses, good warm food was the order of the
day. Other details I did not find usual to the setting or
period, but we can accept that not every hostess arranged
her household parties in the same way.
Cynthia Moore has packaged an enjoyable tale and gentle
romance around the winter season, and BETTER THAN A
PRESENT
contains an irresistible heroine and her ideal hero.
While in London on business during the Season, Lord Paul Russell, attracted by a beautiful woman, fails in securing a place on her dance card. The next morning when he returns to Cornwall, he wonders if this mystery woman will still be available. Bored by all the eligible gentlemen she meets, Lady Samantha Grayson desires more than their meaningless conversations and preoccupation with silly fashion requirements. Only one gentleman catches her eye, but she misses her chance to speak to him, never encountering him again the rest of the Season. A sudden snowstorm on Christmas Eve morning catches Samantha alone and unprotected. When she seeks shelter in a nearby cottage, she is astonished when the door opens to the very man who caught her interest in London a few months ago. What was doomed to be an uneventful Christmas, to her pleasant surprise could be better than a present.