A Delicate Deception (The Regency Impostors)
1824. Amelia Allenby is outraged to encounter a very large man on her usual walk. Has she not, after all, fled to this remote corner of Derbyshire to escape company? And the panic attacks they precipitate? Despite this initial reaction, she finds him oddly endearing, and their relationship rapidly improves. For his part, Sydney Goddard is equally surprised to find himself attracted to an upper-class lady. He is, after all, a radical and a Quaker. But then she turns out to hold surprisingly unconventional views and is refreshingly candid.
The path to happiness is convoluted, however, for though they fall in love readily enough, missteps and practical difficulties hinder marriage: he is an engineer who builds railroads and needs to meet investors in cities; she is a recluse. Is a compromise possible?
The author peoples her novel with lively and delightful characters, so different from polite society. Indeed, the main figures are LGBTQ and political radicals (Sydney’s mother is inspirational!); but what makes their company a joy is the wit of their banter, their struggle to recognize their mistakes and be honest about their feelings, and their ability to care for each other and to tolerate differences. Highly recommended.
