Customer Reviews

A Highly Respectable Marriage

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Like another reviewer, I just chanced to pull this book from my shelf. A 1982 novel with rather small print, I wasn't sure it had much promise. I was wrong. What a delightful novel with mature, though sometimes flawed, characters. There is not one person you meet that is not well fleshed out with delightful (yet VERY human) personalities. Take our heroine, Pandora. She is rather naive but so full of love and compassion for others. She really can't see the selfishness in people around her. She is taken advantage of by those who should love her best. Her older brother Courtney, army mad, manages to sweet talk her into parting with the remaining family jewels to finance his commission to America. Her younger brother William, though young and more forgivable, tends to deal only with his passions of science then the realities of life. Even her half sister Octavia begrudges Pandora the least bit of affection and attention seeing her only as some small means of advancing herself in Societies eyes.

Enter the Duke of Heron, thirty-six, aloof, bored but possessing a keen sense of humor and respectability. Pandora, at nineteen, is orphaned and her father was involved in some sort of military blunder before his death. She feels compelled to make her way in the world and appeals to Heron for the position of governess. She learned from an old family friend that he has been made the guardian to two young children. Since this same family friend has told Heron she wanted to help him find a wife, he is confused and appalled by Pandora's request and thinks she is applying to be his wife! How shocking, yet how intriguing, when he realizes the mistake.

The rest of the novel moves through various stages of the Season and how Heron succeeds in making many of Pandora's wishes come true. He assists (behind the scenes) in solving many problems that crop up along the way. He puzzles over why he wants to help this young woman but of course we realize he is falling in love, even if he does not. Pandora, too, matures during this time, leaving her childish infatuation with one of Courtney's friend behind her as she explores the depth of her feelings for Heron. After they marry, there are the normal "getting to know you" problems, plus danger appears in the form of a jealous woman. The story moved rapidly and without the drawn out misunderstandings rampant in other Regency novels. You must read this book and meet all the other people from the balloonist to Heron's grandmother. Wonderful must read!

I must admit, this book had been sitting on my shelf for months, given to me by a friend. I don't think I ever really had the intention of reading it. But one day, I found myself at home with nothing to do...I had read all my other books, so I decided to take this off the shelf and read it. I was very happily surpirsed.

The characters were written to be liked. The heroine, Pandora, is giving, kind, impetuous, and unspoiled. The hero, while somewhat jaded and arrogant, is also kind and highly likable. There was nothing about either of these characters that I found annoying. The secondary characters were also well-written, and the dialogue a joy to follow.

A HIGHLY RESPECTABLE MARRIAGE is a little more somber than most regencies but it still proved to be interesting. Miss Pandora Carlyon is near the end of her ropes: her parents are deceased, she has little money and two brothers who are counting on her, one for schooling and the other for respectable employment. She has some jewels that she inherited but they are her last resort. Her elder half-sister is both jealous and bitter and is of little help. Left to her own devices, she visits the Duke of Heron, under the impression he needs a governess for his wards. Little does she know.

When they first meet Pandora's intentions are misunderstood and Heron treats her shoddily. Boredom and routine have become embedded in his life. This is not the usual romance where the hero falls madly in love. Age is a problem, Heron is 35 and Pandora is 19. Use to women who are exquisite beauties, Pandora is both boyishly slim and plain in looks. But she speaks her mind, something that is rare in females of this time and Heron is attracted to ....what? Even he is unsure why he starts to visit her but he does.

Slowly Heron learns to see everything through Pandora's eyes which is refreshing. Pandora's earlier life was influenced by her father who was a soldier. She continues to be concerned about her father's troops when they start to return home. Some are injured and most have no jobs. Heron, who has never had to worry about money, now begins to help others on the sly.

What makes this regency good is the manner in which Ms. Walsh allows us to see the changes in the Duke of Heron. Honestly, I didn't care for his character at first. The author does a wonderful job of depicting all the worries that Pandora experiences. She is neither immature or whiny for a 19 year old. On the whole, A HIGHLY RESPECTABLE MARRIAGE was satisfying with believable characters. Published in 1982 it is not dated. If you enjoy the regency genre you should enjoy this romance.