The Promissory Note

by Rebecca Ward

With dainty fists clenched and dark eyes ablaze, Miss Rosalys Larrimer gathered the skirts of her twice mended frock and stormed out of the parlor in a tizzy. Poor Rosalys could not believe the note just read to her and her sister Daphne. A promissory note it was, drawn up between the late Duke of Kedwell and her own father – but what it promised was a marriage contract between their children! Although its signatories long ago had a falling-out, Lady Larrimer would see to it that the aged note was honored. After all, a match between Daphne and Connor St. Cyr would save Larrimer House from foreclosure.

Spirited Rosalys was outraged. Her sister, wed with neither dowry nor fortune, would be humiliated. Worse yet, despite St. Cyr's impressive demeanor, his lordship was a socially graceless, clumsy bumpkin. But Rosalys never dreamed that there was method to his lordship's rustic madness . . . and that the dreary note of days past held the key to her own bright future.

Genres: Regency, Romance, Regency Romance

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 1989

About the author

Rebecca Ward is a pseudonym of Maureen Crane Wartski.

Reviews

[Linda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the Larrimer family have sold just about everything and is about to have the family estate foreclosed on, Lady Larrimer presents a promissory note signed by Lord St. Cyr pledging the marriage of his son to Larrimer's daughter. She will force the issue to marry him to her daughter Daphne. Rosalys is the eldest but not as pretty. But her mother is determined. When Connor St Cyr arrives he presents himself as a big clumsy oaf. Needless to say this is a guise that Rosalys detects, but still cannot get things to change. Several more people arrive and lots of incidents before the couples get sorted out and all ends happily. A decent romance.

[Morrrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too bad a way to spend an afternoon

well as an hommage to The Unknown Ajax it is ok
There aren't those jarring mistakes that annoy so much

[Margaret · Rating 1 out of 5]

Georgette Heyer book The Unknown Ajax copy

This story has the same plot as The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer with a few changes in plot and characters.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 2 out of 5]

What happens when a gentleman is forced to marry someone he has yet met? The answer: deception in full force. The late Duke of Kedwell and Daphne Larrimer's father made a pact when they were both friends years before. One of each of their offspring will marry. Because of this Connor St. Cyr, the Duke's grandson, comes across as clumsy and bumbling. Though handsome, he lacks all the good graces that would make him attractive to the young woman.

Her half-sister, Rosalys, knows something is not quite right and the young woman is determined to find out the truth. She is nothing like her sister either in looks or attitude and this intrigues the young lord. Both St. Cyr aka Dracourt and Rosalys develop a friendship.

Heavy on the dialect of the times, I thought the author went a little overboard. Wilta, Pon rep, dosta, tha'rt, and nowt are just a hint of the dialect that the hero and many other characters use. It was too heavy and, for me, it took away from the story. Another reason I did not give it high marks was that so many of the secondary characters got involved. Too many. If the author made me care for their stories I would not have found it exasperating. I rated the romance two stars for 'OK'.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't quite sure what to think of this book when I started it. Drax was a bit off-putting at first, and so was some of the older style language (though admittedly its an older Regency!). However, I felt a spark of something and was determined to hang on, knowing it would get better and it certainly did! I really enjoyed this book and all the characters. The whole drunken episode towards the end had me rolling with laughter! A very fun read and definitely recommended.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars+