To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters ★★★★☆
Unfortunately, choosing to own a rather vulgar theatre has lead to scandal.
When his father orders him to sell it, he chooses to cut himself off from his family, rather than submit.
In the following years he has worked hard to make the theatre successful and now he wants it to be respectable.
When he meets Lady Emily Turner, he is impressed by her ability to retain a reputation for respectability, despite scandals in her own family.
Julian suggests a marriage of convenience and explains that her respectability is an asset that he values. Essentially, her job will great a gloss of respectability over him and his business.
Emily has spent her life bending to her mother’s opinion and duty to the family. Her reward is a dowry gambled away by her father and a suitor who is blackmailing her father.
Julian’s offer has to be an improvement.
Marriage to Julian gives her freedom from her family, but the cause of “respectability” means regular exposure to Society. Many of Society dislike Julian, so Emily faces spite, scorn and an uphill battle.
Emily wants to be involved with the theatre, but struggles to convince Julian.
Emily gradually starts to overcome her conditioned reticence and expresses her opinions as never before.
Each work hard to make the marriage work, as the business arrangement becomes something much more personal.
A pleasing story, with a satisfying conclusion.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.
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