The Matter of the Secret Bride (A Useful Woman Mystery)
Set in 1820, this historical English mystery follows Rosalind Thorne, a resourceful socialite who assists ladies of the ton with delicate matters. Maria Fitzherbert, the rumored secret wife of King George IV, requests Rosalind’s assistance. Someone has stolen Mrs. Fitzherbert’s marriage certificate—a document that could prove the king’s bigamy and impact the royal divorce proceedings against the king’s scandalous wife, Caroline of Brunswick, who is fighting to retain her royal position and become queen. The certificate’s existence, revealed by its loss, would bring shame and scandal to the royal house and all concerned.
Rosalind investigates the loss, teaming up with ex-Bow Street officer Adam Harkness. Their inquiry leads them through an intriguing web involving Mrs. Fitzherbert’s daughters; a disreputable attorney named Josiah Poole, found murdered; and various individuals who act suspiciously, causing the inquiry to deepen in the face of a potential scandal that could rock the kingdom. The continual presence of the press, in the person of reporter Ron Ranking, adds tension since he would love to write a juicy tabloid headline. Fitzherbert’s daughter Minney Seymore raises eyebrows since Captain Dawson, Minney’s love interest, has many debts and could profit from the sale of the certificate.
The novel intricately weaves historical facts with fiction, delivering a complex and engaging mystery. At times, the action lags in the presence of overly detailed descriptions. Still, Rosalind’s character is well-drawn, her romantic relationship with Adam Harkness adds interest, and the author accurately places the historical events. Wilde brings to life an obscure but compelling episode in English history and relays the ever-present social reality that any taint of scandal could prove ruinous in Regency London.
