A Little Light Mischief: A Turner Novella
As one might suspect from this author, this is not your typical Regency romance. For a start, the romantic relationship is between two women. Secondly, though one is the daughter of a vicar, they are really members of the working class, struggling amidst economic and physical hardship to survive.
Alice Stapleton is the lady’s companion to the kindly Mrs. Wraxhall, but it is not her employer’s male guests who attract her, rather Molly Wilkins, the lady’s maid with the voluptuous bosom. Despite her disreputable background, Molly is good-hearted and quite willing to enter into a physical relationship. She does, moreover, teach Alice to value herself and stand up for her rights against a bullying father and false accuser. The happy-ever-after may seem very fortunate, if not improbable, in that social context, but the message that facing challenges with courage and kindness to others can lead to hard-won happiness is encouraging in any age.
Warmly recommended.
