Stevie‘s review of A Touch of Silver (The Daring Dersinghams, Book 1) by Lynne Connolly
Historical Romance published by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc. 02 Jul 19
Although I’m always a little sad when one of Lynne Connolly’s splendid historical series comes to an end, the emotion is generally tempered by the knowledge that something new and exciting awaits us. This time we step away from the political dramas of the Emperors of London and the glamour of their cousins, the Shaws, to meet some highly independent and unconventional, for their time, women attempting to navigate the restrictions of Society without sacrificing their dreams. First up is Annie Cathcart, a widow who is determined to build her late husband’s silver business into an enterprise that will truly flourish, supporting both her and her two sons as well as allowing more of the burgeoning merchant classes to buy fine tableware. But first she has to find suitable premises into which her works can expand.
Annie firmly believes that the new rolling mill she recently purchased from France will place her one step ahead of the silversmiths to whom her husband sold his silver wire, by enabling her to make dinner services at a much lower cost. The current property she rents as both a home and business premises is too small for what she has in mind, but a larger house close by has recently been vacated by its owner and appears potentially more suitable than her other option of renting the dilapidated property next door to hers in addition to her current one. When she receives a reply to her enquiry, however, it is from the owner’s agent and includes lewd suggestions of what Annie could do to secure a favourable decision. Incensed, Annie storms ’round to see the owner himself.
Until recently Gerald Dersingham lived quietly with his three sisters in the house Annie covets. Then a carriage accident killed three of his close relatives, leaving Gerald to inherit the title Earl of Carbrooke and in a position to find suitable husbands for his three intellectual sisters. They have, therefore, moved into a more elegant residence and Gerald has found himself all-but-engaged to the former fiancée of the previous heir to the title. The Lady in question is not someone Gerald would necessarily have chosen for himself, but she has the means to provide his sisters with what Gerald thinks they want, so he goes along with the courtship. Annie’s arrival throws a spanner into the works, of course.
Gerald is horrified to learn that his land steward – also inherited from his predecessors – has been abusing his position and resolves to dispense with the man’s services straight away. He’s reluctant to fully relinquish his former home as quickly as Annie would like, especially because his sisters still need to remove their plants and equipment at times that will not adversely affect their individual projects, and so Annie decides to approach her current landlord regarding the more available, and more affordable, adjacent property instead, at least for the time being. She and Gerald have fast become friends, and she suspects that he will eventually relinquish the house to her, once he has become more used to his new place in Society.
When Annie goes ’round to negotiate the rent on the second property, her landlord offers her a different sort of proposal altogether: to become his wife and allow their two silver businesses to grow together. Although not attracted to him, Annie can see advantages to the match, since she believes Gerald to be out of her reach and is initially convinced that her sons will be well provided for and will eventually inherit her current business, while any children of her next marriage will inherit their father’s business.
It’s not that simple. Annie and Gerald continue to see each other and fall in love, as their respective intended-spouses prove to be thoroughly bad lots. How this all gets resolved is a thrilling whirl of excitement with both their families, as well as Annie’s workers pitching in to try to ensure that various disasters are averted.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and all the glimpses we see of the new technologies and scientific discoveries that dominate the lives of Annie and the three Dersingham sisters. I also liked the details of Gerald’s social anxiety, its origins, how he copes with it, and what it means for his and his sisters’ day-to-day lives. I can’t wait to see what else is in store for those women as well.
Grade: A
Summary:
Gerald Dersingham, the new Earl of Carbrooke, is captivated by the woman who storms into his house demanding an explanation for a letter he had no idea he sent.
Gerald never wanted to be an earl. He was happier living in seclusion with his sisters. About to become betrothed to the icy daughter of a duke, he meets the vibrant, alluring Annie, who captivates his heart. But if he gives in to his desires, he risks a happy ending for his sisters, and they deserve their chances.
Annie Cathcart is a widow from the City of London. Finally, she has the chance to achieve her dream of creating silverware for the table. But she needs Gerald’s old Shoreditch home to do it. Expecting a stuffy, pompous aristocrat, she meets a man who sees right through her practical exterior to the passionate woman beneath. She wants him more than the house, her respectability, and her independence.
Annie and Gerald are faced with stark choices when her landlord tries to blackmail her into marriage.
Either they give in to the pressures forcing them into unhappy respectability apart… or they boldly defy convention in the name of love.
Read an excerpt.
