Funny and annoying. I can't tell whether it was written straight - in which case there's way too much author's fiat in play - or if it was written tongue-in-cheek, as a comedy of errors, in which case it's quite neatly done. The overlapping scheming is utterly ridiculous - and I'm still not sure just what Kennard had in mind the night of the ball - and then everything dovetails neatly into the appropriate slots. Coldmeece doesn't listen very well - or rather, he hears the beginning, assumes the middle and translates everything said after that based on his assumptions. Caro is certainly more inconvenient than Louisa! And like that. Three entirely appropriate marriages, out of the tangled mess of the middle of the book... It's neatly done, as I said, but maybe just a little too neatly. Still, a decent story, which I've reread at least once and may do so again. ( )