Miss Elizabeth Beresford had become an heiress upon her grandmother's death. Her sister, Evadne, thought she was very clever when she engineered that Elizabeth would be trapped overnight in the cellars with Evadne's brother-in-law. Except that the plot misfired and it was Sir Richard Knightly who became entrapped with Elizabeth! Richard was not unwilling to marry, for Elizabeth had changed beautifully from the young girl he remembered. It was Elizabeth who was reluctant, for she loved him and there was something she couldn't tell him . . .
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The previous reviewer's view about the double standard involved concerning a groom's desire that his bride be lily-white pure and virginal is quite accurate. I certainly wanted to hurl several breakable objects at Sir Richard Knightley's head when he started to rant and rave at Elizabeth's not being a virgin. Especially since the novel actually opens with Richard relieving his nurse of her virginity (she refuses to marry him because she senses that he does not love her). The irony of the whole thing never really seems to hit Richard, nor disappointingly is it ever really discussed in the book. However, "Lady Knightley's Secret" had proved to be highly engrossing reading up to that point, so I persevered, and was rewarded. This romance novel was a truly excellent read. Anne Ashley writing style is engaging and intelligent, and she handled the entire issue of Richard's anger and Elizabeth's pain in a very capable manner. And, thankfully, she rehabilitates Richard halfway through the book (who displays a surprising capacity for mature and discriminating behaviour), so that the reader is able to see Richard as a 'hero' after all, and worthy of the Elizabeth's love and devotion. I liked the various subplots that revolved around the main plot and made this novel a lot more interesting than it otherwise might have been. But most of all, I liked that character of Elizabeth Beresford, who turned out to be one of the most intelligent, capable and nicest of heroines I've ever come across. "Lady Ashley's Secret" is definitely a first rate read.
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