Following his father’s illness, Julian Aldwyn decides it’s time to marry. However, following an unfortunate experience in his youth, he is wary and isn’t interested in a high-flown passion. Offering for the daughter of a neighbour, he is rejected - although she wishes to escape a difficult home situation, she isn’t interested in marriage. Instead, she joins a widowed school friend in Bath.

A charming Regency romance of love required--and hardily acquired!

I haven't read any of Alice Chetwynd Ley's books for years, so when the opportunity came to revisit one her works I took it. I'm glad I did.
It's 1814 and the Honorable Julian Aldwyn decided it's about time to marry. He is persuaded by his sister to consider Miss Henrietta Melville, a spinster of twenty-six, with a nicely timed sense of humor, an intelligent outlook, and an heiress.
Henrietta has been chatelaine of her father's house. After his death her brother has inherited her childhood home. It is becoming more apparent that it is no longer the place for her. No home needs more than one mistress. Her brother's wife is determined to be mistress and the servants find it hard to drop old habits of consulting Henrietta. An unfortunate dilemma.
On the pretext of being in the neighborhood Julian decides to become acquainted with his sister's friend. An untimely proposal of a marriage of convenience stirs Henrietta to refuse him showing Julian that she's neither comfortable nor conformable.
Looking to set up her own establishment Henrietta repairs to Bath joining her widowed friend Louisa Fordyce at her residence in Pulteney Street, one of Bath's more exclusive neighborhoods.
Although Henrietta doesn't take Bath by storm she is relieved to know she is admired, by not one, but three seemingly attentive gentlemen.
Into this situation comes Julian along with knowledge of unpleasantness relating to one admirer. Quite a jolt for all concerned.
Personally, I'm quite taken with the occupant next door to the ladies, Captain Robert Barclay of the Royal Navy, who only has eyes for Louisa.
A sweet read, if a little other worldly in the conversation style, with the heroine and the secondary characters cast in the role of Heyer type personas. All is proper in Henrietta and Julian's relationship, with that suppressed hint of attraction bubbling underneath. A pleasant HEA with a splash of drama!

A Sapere ARC via NetGalley ( )