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Rosemary - or Too Clever To Love by G.L. Robinson - A story summary and a cover that reminded me of Georgette Heyer's novels prompted me to read this novel and it made good on the promise. (update: The cover that now appears above is NOT the charming one that I liked.)
Rosemary is the quintessential governess - very well-educated and from a good but penniless family, left to make her own living when her parents pass and she is still unmarried. She earned her place as governess to Marianne by dressing as plainly as possible in order to appear older. When Marianne's father dies, she must go to live with her guardian, the Earl of Tyndell, accompanied by her governess. Rosemary fears that she will soon need to secure a new position, since Marianne is old enough to not need a governess, but to the relief of both ladies, the Earl (or 'Dear Uncle Giles' as Marianne calls him) decides that Rosemary should stay on as a companion and chaperone. His condition is that Rosemary update her very dowdy wardrobe.
Rosemary boldly challenges the Earl's ideas about the education of women, and he finds her to be intelligent and talented, able to converse on serious topics, and to his surprise she turns out to be quite beautiful when she exchanges her shapeless brown dress and severe bonnet for more flattering styles.
After an unfortunate misunderstanding, the Earl sends Marianne and Rosemary to his cousin in London. There, the cousin is supposed to prepare Marianne for her London season, but the company is dull and uninteresting, and the cousin's son makes advances on Rosemary. When Giles discovers this - and that a London rake has been romancing Marianne - he makes changes to their arrangement, and starts to recognize his growing feelings for Rosemary. But a foolish decision by Marianne puts her in danger, and Rosemary's instinctive but reckless effort to save her makes matters worse. Can Giles track them both down and protect them both from harm?
As mentioned, this novel was quite reminiscent of Heyer's style, and was a charming romance set in the Regency period. The three main characters are very likable and while much of the plot is predictable, the story is well-written and interesting. It is a clean romance, although there are references to the lustful and wandering eyes of a couple of male characters, and there is one scene between Rosemary and Giles that hinted at becoming racy, it stopped short.
Overall, a very pleasant and entertaining Regency with a bit of Gothic flavor.
From the publisher:
The Ugly Duckling meets the Gothic novel: a plain governess, a romantic Miss, a stern but handsome guardian, involved in a midnight chase, a woman dressed in britches and a gloomy castle. Throw in a bit of Vivaldi and some French philosophy, and you have it all!
If Rosemary can't control her wayward pupil and prove her worth to her guardian the Earl, her future is bleak.
When Marianne's father dies, she and her governess Rosemary are forced to go and live with her guardian the Earl of Tyndell. The Earl has strict ideas about how young ladies should behave. He isn't impressed by the romantic notions Marianne has absorbed straight from the pages of a Gothic novel. And her governess is not only dowdy but perfectly ready to put him in his place, especially regarding his ideas about the education of women. But when the Earl's interest in Rosemary blossoms just as Marianne falls in love with the last person he would ever agree to her marrying, where will it all end? Read Rosemary or Too Clever to Love to see how this tangle is sorted out.
In spite of its light-hearted and often humorous tone, this charming novel raises questions about women's education and philosophy. Book Group Discussion topics have been included at the end.
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