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The Youngest Miss Ashe
“I’ll be your mistress, not your wife”.
Sir Simon Darrow had known and like Meg Ashe since she was a child and secure in his acceptability, his blunt proposal totally lacked romance, he was stunned when Meg refused him, and went instead to her aunt in Paris.
Eight years later as the widowed and very wealthy Countess de Montaine, Meg returned, trailing an apparently slightly soiled reputation, to find Simon still unmarried and not prepared to accept Meg’s decision never to marry again … despite his misgivings!
Sir Simon Darrow had known and like Meg Ashe since she was a child and secure in his acceptability, his blunt proposal totally lacked romance, he was stunned when Meg refused him, and went instead to her aunt in Paris.
Eight years later as the widowed and very wealthy Countess de Montaine, Meg returned, trailing an apparently slightly soiled reputation, to find Simon still unmarried and not prepared to accept Meg’s decision never to marry again … despite his misgivings!
350 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Paula Marshall
129 books22 followersPaula was born in Leicester and grew up in Nottingham. After finishing school, she was employed as a research librarian, and studied for her library examinations after work.
Paula has three children, and when the third started school, she returned to work, beginning a new career as a part-time lecturer in English and general studies. After four years of teaching, it became necessary for her to gain a degree, and Paula did just that. She enrolled in the open university and spent the next four years earning a first class honors BA in history.
Paula has three children, and when the third started school, she returned to work, beginning a new career as a part-time lecturer in English and general studies. After four years of teaching, it became necessary for her to gain a degree, and Paula did just that. She enrolled in the open university and spent the next four years earning a first class honors BA in history.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 22, 2018
The premise and the beginning are snappy but then it becomes the average tropey late Regency fare with the same old resolvable mus, slut shaming, I-will-show-him, push-pull action, caricatured villains and annoying hanger-on family.
The youngest (and the most insecure) Miss Ashe ran away from the H’s proposal as it was not only unromantically presented but was also pushed by her overbearing mama.
So now 8 years later, widowed and with a mouthful of French title and accompanying wealth behind her, she comes back to not only conquer London but also outshine her previously spectacular and selfish sisters. So basically it's the revenge of the plain sister in the best way possible – with kindness and largesse!
The poor rejected H – a neighboring squire, who had waited to offer for her rather than her sisters – has meanwhile also moved from his bucolic sequestration to become an MP in London. They meet again and he thinks the worst of this frenchifried version of ‘his Meg’.
Add her family but now as deferent spongers. Add a villain – an annoying pup at most but with completely omniscient powers to lead on the h/H onto their mutual mus – and we have the story.
The youngest (and the most insecure) Miss Ashe ran away from the H’s proposal as it was not only unromantically presented but was also pushed by her overbearing mama.
So now 8 years later, widowed and with a mouthful of French title and accompanying wealth behind her, she comes back to not only conquer London but also outshine her previously spectacular and selfish sisters. So basically it's the revenge of the plain sister in the best way possible – with kindness and largesse!
The poor rejected H – a neighboring squire, who had waited to offer for her rather than her sisters – has meanwhile also moved from his bucolic sequestration to become an MP in London. They meet again and he thinks the worst of this frenchifried version of ‘his Meg’.
Add her family but now as deferent spongers. Add a villain – an annoying pup at most but with completely omniscient powers to lead on the h/H onto their mutual mus – and we have the story.
April 7, 2010
Unusually good for the first three-quarters, excessively maudlin for the last quarter. The interaction between the reunited childhood sweethearts was snappy and fun. The backstory was flimsy in places, and the villain not much more threatening than blancmange. A bit too much "Oh, my darling!"-ing towards the end, and I would have liked to see a bit more elaboration of the happily ever after. Overall, a sweet, quick read so long as you're willing to forgive the lapses of originality.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews