Customer Reviews

Miss Drayton's Downfall (Signet Regency Romance)

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This - to my knowledge - is the first in Oliver's series of linked books about a group of friends known as the Seven Corinthians. It introduces not only Raven, the Earl of Mansfield, whose story this is, but also the Marquess of Gresham, who appears in a later and even better book.

Cassandra had been in love with, and intended to marry, Mansfield's younger brother, but her fiance died before he could give her the protection of his name. Since they had anticipated the wedding ceremony, her fiance had begged his brother, on his death-bed, to look after Cassandra. So they find themselves tied to each other in a marriage neither of them wanted.

However, some of Mansfield's friends find Cassandra rather more attractive than he had expected, and both of them find themselves experiencing very unexpected feelings of jealousy. The book's finish is entirely unexpected and a near-tearjerker.

I've re-read this book at least three times and will do so again.

This book was my introduction to Patricia Oliver, and on its strength I've since read many more. The plot has a lot of strengths: heroine (Cassandra) was secretly betrothed, but her fiance died before they could marry. On his death-bed, he begged his brother to look after Cassandra, because they'd anticipated the wedding ceremony. Thus the book starts with the brother, the Earl of Mansfield (known to his friends as Raven) arriving to break the sad news to Cassandra and - reluctantly - to offer to marry her if she is pregnant.

Thus begins a very inauspicious marriage; what Raven was not expecting is that Cassandra becomes very popular with his sister, his mother and his friends! His closest friend, the Earl of Gresham (look for Lord Gresham's Lady) even sets up a flirtation with her. And, to his amazement, Raven finds that he cares.

The problem is, he's completely hopeless at doing anything about it! And Cassandra doesn't really have much idea how to deal with him either.

But being Patricia Oliver, the plot is resolved with some fun, quite a bit of angst, and a smile at the end. And there are more books to look for, about many of the supporting characters here, so what are you waiting for?

Cassandra Drayton is in a pickle. She and her young fiance, Stephen, have anticipated their vows and now she's pregnant. To add to her being out of sorts, she enters her father's vicarage only to find Phineas Ravenville, Earl of Mansfield - and Stephen's older brother - waiting for her. Stephen is dead, Phineas (a.k.a. Raven) tells her, and he is there to fulfill his brother's dying wish of providing respectability for Cassandra and a father for their baby. One marriage of convenience later - conveniently performed by Cassandra's father - and they're heading to the glittering world of London and all its society has to offer.

This story portrays two people who are an unlikely match, but who come to recognize that, unlikely though they may be, they are, indeed, a match. Cassandra navigates the waters of London society, and we see Raven and Cassandra getting to know each other and, at the same time, denying their growing attraction for each other. Raven's friends are the creme de la creme of the ton, and it's refreshing that they don't alienate or shun Cassandra. Instead, they take her under their collective wing (however unrealistic that may be), and Raven's fellow Corinthians do their part to fuel a little jealousy from Raven. The book takes place both in London and at Raven's country seat, to which they adjourn for the holidays.

I really liked Cassandra. Even though she could at times be shrewish, I thought it was a realistic portrayal of a country miss thrown into the shark-infested waters of London society. Based on her narrative, I liked how she thought about Raven's feelings (like at the jewelers' shop), and she doesn't blame him for the situation in which they find themselves. Raven is enigmatic and a little cruel. You have to keep in mind, though, that he's been a hedonistic bachelor all of his life, and it definitely takes time for him to adjust to the fact that he now has someone under his care. His love for and interactions with his mother reveal a softer side to his hard-edged nature. Raven's friends are delightful and fun, but the villainess who is the chief rival for Raven's affections is a little cardboard. She serves her purpose, though, and she's suitably catty for one of these shorter traditional Regency novels.

This book is one of the earlier installments of the Seven Corinthians series by Patricia Oliver. Unfortunately, it's my understanding that she passed away before all of their stories could be told. Nonetheless, we can enjoy the ones she did give us, and "Miss Drayton's Downfall" is very enjoyable, indeed.