Francoise's Reviews > Lady in Waiting

4 Stars

Lady in Waiting is the first installment in Marie Tremayne’s debut series “Reluctant Brides”. It was a delightful and sweet read with well-developed characters that make the book.

William, Lord Ashworth, has suffered a terrible loss that has changed the course of his life. Traumatized and injured, he has shut himself away in his country estate, Lawton Park.

Clara Mayfield is heiress to a banking fortune, but her family is snubbed by the ton and her parents intend to force her into a loveless arranged marriage. Her fiancé is abusive and Clara decides to run away. She seeks safety by hiding as a servant. She is hired as housemaid at Lawton Park under a false identity.

I loved Clara, she has a very resilient spirit, she is pragmatic, industrious and willing to work hard, winning the affection of everyone at the estate. And yet, William and Clara’s relationship starts out antagonistic, William seems to take an instant dislike to her, he is suspicious. Yet, as they get to know each other, he can’t help but trust and admire her. I loved that their romance was a slow burn and their relationship grew from chapter to chapter.

It took me a while to warm to William. At first, he came across as stiff and a stickler for rules and upstairs/downstairs etiquette. His vulnerability is unsettling his mind, but he can’t deny the intense emotions he feels for Clara. For her sake, he is willing to break with tradition and social boundaries. She is able to reach the man underneath the polished aristocrat and their chemistry was palpable.

Marie Tremayne has woven a story that incorporates a realistic character growth that totally won me over. Her characters were beautifully drawn. I loved that they didn’t act hastily on their attraction to each other. There were many ups and downs between them, they both had their own trials to deal with. This character-driven historical romance was an enjoyable read and I’ll definitely follow this author in the future.

ARC generously provided by the publisher.