Review: The elusive wife
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 1, 2013
Jason Cavendish, Earl of Coventry, has to satisfy his late father's will by marrying Lady Jane, whom he's never met. Promising his mistress that he'll marry this chit and leave her in the country, the aggrieved Jason spends his last single night carousing and turns up at his estate still drunk, to wed.THE ELUSIVE WIFE manages to gain our sympathy for Jason, but then we see Lady Jane's point of view. Also known by her middle name Olivia, the girl has had no say in her life, and believes she is entitled to a proper marriage. Embarrassed and hung over, Jason heads back to London, where his friend Drake reprimands him.  Jason decides to wait until Jane has had time to calm down, then he'll go and apologise, but he can't even remember what she looks like.Elizabeth, Lady Lansdowne, invites her old school friend Olivia to stay at her London townhouse and explain how she married Jason who is currently the life of several parties. Olivia has to have new clothes made and sends the bill to her husband. Furious when Jason doesn't recognise her at a ball under her maiden name, but flirts anyway, Olivia decides to have a good time at his expense. Then Jason, who finds the new Olivia attractive, asks his solicitor for an annulment....The author Callie Hutton normally writes Western romance so has doubtless enjoyed researching England at the time, producing a richly enjoyable story with several facets. There are several similarities to 'Unforgivable' by Joanna Chambers but this book takes the story further. As usual with Regencies I found a few nit-picking items: the wedding would have taken place in the family chapel on the estate, not in the house library. In 1812 due to the lengthy Napoleonic wars the aristocracy were expected to have served in Army or Navy, and were also heavily taxed to pay for the wars, so often needed to marry for money. However this is highly entertaining for Regency romance fans, with an unusual, action-filled finish.