Elisabeth Fairchild

Miss Margaret Dornton is a naive, idealist whose imagination has been fired by tales of courage, great deeds, and heroism. Her desire to emulate the courage of her heros leads her into several very ill-considered actions which have serious repercussions for those around her, including her twin elder sisters, and her cousin Allan.

Major Lord Evelyn Dade was the sole survivor of his regiment at Waterloo. He is a broken man obsessed with death and guilt.

These two people would appear to be show more complete opposites, but there is more beneath the surface. Margaret Dornton is also acquainted with tragedy, and has had her own struggle with guilt. While the attraction between this pair is immediate, it does not lead immediately to commitment. Nevertheless as the story progresses there is growth in both Margaret and Evelyn. She looses her dewy-eyed romance with heroism as she comes to grips with the cost paid by the hero who survives. Evelyn begins to heal as Margaret's wisdom and caring draw him out into the light.

I liked this book. The similarities which draw Margaret and Evelyn to one another are believable. Elisabeth Fairchild is an author with considerable insight into people, especially men. For example, there is a months-long silence between the couple. It's the kind of thing that occurs between lovers which drives women absolutely crazy with its incomprehensibility. --This portion of the story is told from Evelyn's perspective. Another is the way in which Evelyn acts upon Margaret’s encouragement for him to talk to someone about his horrific experiences. Normally, the hero would unburden himself to the heroine. Neither Margaret, nor any woman, is first to receive Evelyn’s confidences. It is threads and touches of this sort that make Fairchild's novels rise to the upper rank of the Regency genre. show less

Lord Julian Endicott is at the edge of starvation due to a longstanding depression brought on by grief at the loss of his beloved wife and child in childbirth. Jeannette Saincoeur's task as the new chef-on-trial is to reawaken his appetite. She enters into a campaign to bring light, beauty, and cheer back into his home in order to reawaken his will to eat--and live. At the same time, this French emigree tackles her own demons which include having a father (an historical figure) who botched show more the escape from France of Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette (an historical event). This story is interesting, unusual, well-written, and clean. show less

Captain Alexander Shelbourne is known as Cupid to his army companions for his marksmanship in battle – and because he always aims for the heart. When he accompanies his friend Valentine Wharton home, they happen to arrive on Valentine’s Day. Cupid is matched up with the lovely Penny Foster to grant her a Valentine’s wish. Known to Valentine as “Touch-me-not”, the girl’s reputation is questionable at best due to her mother’s unfortunate actions as well as her own eccentricities. show more But Cupid takes her cryptic clues and sets out to win her trust, and her heart in an effort to shake off the guilt of wartime.

A pretty story full of references to the landscape and legends of Cumbria – as well as to Wordsworth’s The Somnambulist. I especially liked the parts about Cupid’s attempts to recover from the horrors war inflicted on him and how distant he feels from his wartime friends. But the romance itself seemed a bit weak – Cupid is concerned that Penny feels more strongly and more deeply for the child in her care than she does for him, and every single action throughout the book does seem to lend itself to that interpretation. But that insecurity is simply glossed over without any matter of proof on her part at the end of the story. All in all it seemed as if he were significantly more attached to her than she to him, and it pains me to see a romance that is so one-sided. I wish she had shown him a bit more affection given what he does for her sake at the climax of the novel.

Definitely not bad, but not something I’d keep around for several reads. show less

Susan Fairford was left heartbroken, shamed, and deprived of her fortune by the deceitful but charming Mr. Stott the morning after their wedding. He left her nothing but her virtue and her home, Fairford Manor. No longer able to afford the costs of living at the manor, she now lives precariously in a small cottage in the village of Chipping Campden, renting the manor when possible, and selling honey to maintain herself.

On the morning of his wedding day, Philip, Marquis of Chalmondeley, show more walks in as his fiancée and his younger brother are coupling. The cuckolded groom calls off the wedding and rides he knows not where. Exhaustion halts him at the Cotswold village of Chipping Campden. He rents Fairford Manor in order to rest and come to terms with what has happened to him.

Love gently blossoms between Susan and Philip, but is hindered by understandable mistrust each has developed from brutal experience, and the greed and malice of his former fiancée and her lover.

Breach of Promise is quiet, thoughtful and understated, which lends depth, and more credibility to the relationship of Philip and Susan than the facts of the story might indicate. Fairchild excels at building and sustaining romantic and emotional tension. In this novel, she explores the nature of honor versus dishonor, and charm versus genuineness. Underlying all is the peaceful, hypnotic rhythm of honeybees and beekeeping.

This fine story does have problems and dangling threads. How could Chalmondeley have fallen in love within days of a devastating betrayal (stranger things have happened, but this is usually called rebound). The vast social gulf between Susan and Philip is never even alluded to. Why did Chalmondeley bail Stott out of debtor's prison? Lavinia's and Brett's final actions seemed out-of-character. show less