Something in the Heir
For reasons that are as complicated as they are unlikely, Emmeline and William Pershing need to ‘borrow’ two children to pass off as their own at a family gathering to celebrate the birthday of her curmudgeonly grandfather, the Duke of Welshire. When other respectable parents prove unhelpful, they find two appropriately aged siblings at an orphanage, only to discover the streetwise pair is more skilled at stealing than polite behavior. And when their villainous older brother turns up threatening blackmail, the situation becomes even more difficult.
The process through which the four negotiate the challenges and coalesce into a real family is as entertaining as it is heartwarming. Though the plot of this Regency romance remains rather implausible and the resolution optimistic, the characters’ growth and sacrifices during the learning process are deserving of their good fortune. We are, moreover, sharply reminded of the dangers faced by those who lose their protectors in a world without a social safety net, whether it be from criminals, predators, or abuse in church-run orphanages. Recommended.
