A Minor Inconvenience
This is a Regency with a twist: a male/male romance. Captain Hugh Fanshawe was severely wounded in the leg at Salamanca, and is now gracing an office at Horse Guards, dejected by the pity he receives from both family and strangers when he attends ton parties. But handsome officer Theo Lindsay, previously glimpsed at a ball and a molly shop, comes to his office and warns Hugh and his office mate Courtenay about a suspected spy. Theo apparently shares Hugh’s attraction and invites him to dinner, ending the evening in bed. But later, Hugh begins to doubt Theo’s interest in a cripple, and wonders why Theo would bother to put himself out helping Hugh’s sister out of a social faux pas. Then Hugh learns Theo has been imprisoned for being the suspected spy. Can Hugh convince his superiors that Theo is innocent? And will their intimate relationship be revealed in the process?
Judging by the dedication, I got the impression that Granger is a fan of Georgette Heyer’s work. This novel is successful in creating a Regency atmosphere. Granger mostly keeps to period language, but a few slips peek through, such as the modern phrase “good luck with that.” I liked the realistic touches such as Hugh’s worry that Theo’s servants might talk about their affair. The bedroom scenes are on the inexplicit side. There really isn’t much suspense over the spy plot, but the male romance is agreeable.
