One Fanciful Lady and One Fed Up Lord.

Lady Beatrice Bennington, the eldest of five daughters of the Earl of Westmont, is poised to take her place among the ton. The Benningtons are on their way to Portland Place and Beatrice is coming prepared. Her dear aunt, Miss Eloise Mayton, a lady who has raised them since their mother’s passing, has been exceedingly helpful in directing her efforts. Beatrice has composed a well-considered list of requirements for any would-be suitor. He must have the courage of Beowulf, the strength of Hercules, the derring-do of Robin Hood, as gallant as Sir Gawain, the depth of feelings of Shakespeare, and the stalwart heart of Henry the Fifth. He must be violently in love, tearing his hair out, and challenging other suitors to a duel. He might even threaten to do a violence to himself. Though, Beatrice would prefer only threats to do a violence to himself. She is not unreasonable. Matthew Lawson, Viscount Van Doren, is the Bennington’s closest neighbor. And, as far as he can see, the closest person approximating any sort of rationality and sense. He has spent years attempting to counter Miss Mayton’s wild ideas and bizarre stories of romance. It has been a losing battle and now he follows the Benningtons to Town. All he can do at this point is be prepared to pick Beatrice up when she is knocked down by her own wrong-headed ideas. At least, that’s what he thought he would be doing. As it turns out, Beatrice is surrounded by hopeful lotharios, including a particular duke. Matthew is certain they are all after Beatrice’s dowry and, therefore, they must all be driven off. Beatrice Bennington is set on finding herself a lovesick lunatic, and she just might get one. The author’s favorite types of characters to write:

“My favorite characters, which I think I do a lot of, are victims of their own human foibles. In A Very Fine Muddle series, the books are filled with these people… The daughters of the series are all so approving of one another that none of them ever know what they’re bad at… With the family’s constant and enthusiastic approval, all the sisters cannot help but be rather confident in their genius.”

Kate Archer