The Duke of Brightshire is a self-made man for the simple reason that he never expected to inherit. Berangar Northcott left his native Kent and travelled to America where he set about becoming a businessman. When he marries Emma Brinkman from a Colorado farming community in 1881, she becomes AN AMERICAN DUCHESS because Beringar receives news that he has inherited his family seat. Time to go home.

Charlotte Aldridge from the village works in her family’s bakery and brings goods up to the estate house. The whole village is agog – the whole of Brightshire indeed – with the news and Charlotte is lucky enough to get a glimpse of the new Duke and Duchess. Before long she gets a temporary job in the kitchens and meets the unconventional new lady of the house for herself.

Following both young women is a great way to show the class divide and the standards of the day. Emma is keen to fit in with her husband’s English lifestyle and tries to follow the instructions of her disdainful mother in law. But nothing she does ever seems to be good enough. Rumours have spread that the previous Duke might not have met a natural death. There can’t be any danger for Emma and Berangar – can there? Someone isn’t happy about their presence. While Charlotte, daydreaming of balls she can never attend, has to fetch water and scrub linens, keeping a secret of her own. Crossing class barriers makes for challenges on both sides of the divide. Emma’s conversing with servants is seen as lowering the tone; while Charlotte’s resentful village connections say she is getting ideas above her station.

Some nice touches occur, like the mention of horse-drawn reaping machines as increasing new mechanisation reduces the workload and speeds the harvest. Details help to make scenes more realistic, like a James Keiller & Sons white ceramic marmalade jar used as a glass in the bakery. However, I still found many Americanisms uttered by the English, like bakeshop, fall, cookies, while butternut squash, unknown in Britain, and pumpkin, are served instead of carrots or parsnips. I enjoyed the introduction of messenger pigeons and the exotic arrival of two cowboys who bring Emma’s new family a breath of fresh air. Caroline Fyffe has clearly had fun setting her contrasting characters and amusing or emotional scenes. AN AMERICAN DUCHESS is a detailed historical romance which reads very pleasantly and is suitable for teens or adults.