Barbara Russell’s THE BARON WHO NEVER DANCED is the fifth in her Victorian Outcasts series and features Angeline and Royston. Royston is a footman at the beginning of the title before he is elevated to a Baron after saving the Queen’s grandson. Angeline is a simple Miss whose mother blackmails men for money and power. Royston and Angeline’s worlds collide whenever Royston’s former employer asks him to retrieve sensitive information from Angeline’s mother.
There is a lot going on in this title, some of it is good, some of it not so much. Let’s start with the good. I really like Royston and feel he has the most stable personality of all the characters. What I mean by that is that he is more or less the same guy throughout while some of the other characters are very wishy-washy. I absolutely loved reading about a hero who rises from footman to the aristocracy by being a hero. I love my born dukes, earls, viscounts, and barons as much as the next reader, but sometimes I want to read a historical romance that has more of an Everyman for a hero. The time jump was interesting and I am glad we got to skip Angeline and her mother on the run because I was not interested in that. I do think it would have been fun to see Royston adjusting to his new role though. I found the circumstances leading Royston and Angeline to spend more time together to be pretty original too.
Easily my main issue with this title is Angeline’s mother and her bizarre behavior. To be more specific, one minute she’s trying to sell Angeline’s virginity to a man she had previously deceived, and the next she is telling Angeline she loves her and everything she does is for her to have a good life. It gave me whiplash and does not seem true to her character. I would prefer it if her mother had been deceitful and willing to use her from the start. Angeline herself also goes from sweet, naive young woman to one with a spine standing up for herself. For readers who need historical accuracy, there is a lot of language (such as the phrase “try me”) that would not have been used during the time this is set. This is not always a dealbreaker for me, however.
This was my first title from Barbara Russell, and I would definitely give her another try. I would prefer more consistent characters, but really enjoyed reading about her hero and the change of pace from an aristocrat born with his title to one who had to be earned.
England, 1887 After a near-death experience in the Theatre Royal fire, Angeline wants to find love and have a family. But her mother has other plans. Marriage is overrated. Power is the only thing that matters.
Angeline is supposed to follow in her mother’s steps: become the mistress of many rich lords, collect compromising material on them, blackmail them, and make a lot of money. That’s the recipe for a happy life.
Not for Angeline.
A former cat burglar, turned footman, turned baron, Royston comes from the gutter, but the queen bestows him a title after he saved her grandson from the inferno of the Theatre Royal. London’s peers adore him; he’s a fascinating combination of wildness and courage, and well, the queen likes him. But no one wants to help him get a seat in the House of Lords. After all, he isn’t really one of the peers. If he wants to change society though, he has to be in Parliament. If only a peer supported him.
The Earl of Havisham proposes a deal. If Royston uses his thief skills to retrieve some compromising documents Angeline’s mother has on the earl, Lord Havisham will be Royston’s champion.
Royston accepts the deal. The only problem is his growing feelings for the beautiful and spirited Angeline.
She has nothing to lose, but does she want to pretend to be the wife of the man who ruined her family?
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