Review: A First Class Act
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 4, 2014
Foxhall is a circus/amusement park in the late 18th century that has seen better days. Inheriting the park from his brother, Mr. Smollett has hired Tobias Wolfson to manage it and make it profitable. He recognizes Wolfson's talents as a manager despite an awkward past history which landed the man in Newgate Prison for a stint. Wolfson has grand plans for the long neglected park-he wants to make it into a place where nobility and even royalty will come. This will require expensive renovations and weeding out mundane circus acts. It also requires ridding the park of ladies of the night, which much displeases his underling, Mr. Uglow, who has been taking a cut of their earnings.Henrietta Hart is worried about her father's position in the circus. He is not well and can no longer do his share of the tasks of maintaining the horses. He can barely perform when Wolfson demands to see his act. In desperation, Hetty pleads with Wolfson to allow her to perform, and her performance turns heads! Wolfson tells her she must perform in the guise of a man and must improve the act to the point where it will become a star attraction if she wants to stay on with the circus. Wolfson is intensely attracted to Hetty but, having been badly betrayed by a former lover, he resolves not to succumb to her wiles. Hetty also find Wolfson extremely attractive, but also finds him arrogant and mercenary.Lord Fordyce is not exactly the kind of nobility Wolfson intended to attract. A rake and libertine, he has set his sights on making Hetty his mistress. Hetty is repulsed by him but cannot permit herself to be rude to him because he owns the magnificent stallion Sultan, which Hetty is training to be a part of her act. Sultan was trained by the great animal trainer Aldini. Sultan, however, has developed a skittish condition and will require time and special handling from Hetty. It would be a mistake to have him perform in public before he is ready. Fordyce, however, is pressuring Wolfson and Hetty to do so. He informs Hetty that his forbearance will require certain "personal favors." From her.The Ringmaster's daughter is a colorful and exciting period romance.