An Eccentric Engagement
3.5/5
()
About this ebook
Sorrow Marchand has patiently endured the taunts of London society for her bold speech and curious ways, yet it was those very qualities of the sparkling young beauty that caught the eye of the Honorable Bertram Carlyle and ultimately elicited an offer of marriage from him. But the usually candid Sorrow has kept her ludicrously madcap family a well-hidden secret from her betrothed—and now he is coming to visit!
Bertram was an exceedingly suitable suitor, but for all his many fine traits he had been harshly schooled under the oppressive thumb of his father and had meekly embraced many of the man’s conventional attitudes. Upon meeting Sorrow’s family and becoming swept up in the endless swirl of silly chaos, he senses a conflict of epic proportions on the horizon—both within himself and with his father.
As Sorrow grows more concerned that her outrageous relatives will damn her only chance at happiness with a man she truly loves, Bertram must find the courage to defy his very traditional father and become part of a family that’s anything but—and become the man Sorrow always knew he could be.
This novella was originally published as “Sorrow’s Wedding” in the anthology With This Ring.
About the Author:
Donna Lea Simpson is a nationally bestselling romance and mystery novelist with more than twenty titles to her credit. Her long list of passions include cats and tea, cooking and vintage cookware, cross-stitching and watercolor painting. She lives in Canada.
Donna Lea Simpson
Donna Lea Simpson is a nationally bestselling romance and mystery novelist with over twenty titles published in the last eleven years. An early love for the novels of Jane Austen and Agatha Christie was a portent of things to come; Donna believes that a dash of mystery adds piquancy to a romantic tale, and a hint of romance adds humanity to a mystery story. Besides writing romance and mystery novels and reading the same, Donna has a long list of passions: cats and tea, cooking and vintage cookware, cross-stitching and watercolor painting among them. Karaoke offers her the chance to warble Dionne Warwick tunes, and nature is a constant source of comfort and inspiration. A long walk is her favorite exercise, and a fruity merlot is her drink of choice when the tea is all gone. Donna lives in Canada.The best writing advice, Donna believes, comes from the letters of Jane Austen. That author wrote, in an October 26, 1813, letter to her sister, Cassandra, “I am not at all in a humor for writing; I must write on till I am.” So true! But Donna is usually in a good humor for writing!
Read more from Donna Lea Simpson
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Titles in the series (21)
The Rogue's Folly Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Scandalous Plan Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Rogue's Rescue Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Reforming the Rogue Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Miss Truelove Beckons Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Matchmaker's Christmas Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Married to a Rogue Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A Rake's Redemption Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Earl of Hearts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Viscount's Valentine Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Courting Scandal Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lord Haven’s Deception Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lord St. Claire's Angel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Debutante’s Dilemma Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNoel's Wish Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Lady’s Choice Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The Gilded Knight Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An Eccentric Engagement Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Duke’s Secret Seduction Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Chaperone’s Secret Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lady Savage Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for An Eccentric Engagement
6 ratings3 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sorrow believes that her betrothed, Bertram, will have no difficulty in accepting the household she's come from. Bertram has been under the thumb of his father his entire life and is intrigued by Sorrow's freedom. Will this pair find love together?The story is sweet. and I especially liked the fact that when they are first engaged, this pair isn't sure they love each other. They like each other well enough, and in the course of the story, they come to love each other.for who they are.Due to being a novella, there wasn't a lot of time to develop the side characters as much as I would have liked. Sorrow is done well, as is Bertram, but Sorrow's family seems merely in place to be eccentric and that's all. Bertram's father is disagreeable, as I expected, but the story doesn't allow much time to explain why he is as he was. Or to make the ending really satisfactory.Still, for a quick, short read, it was enjoyable.I received a copy through Net Galley for review purposes.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A very sweet love story. I liked it very much
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unusual!I thought about the word 'charming', but that's not quite right. Sorrow Marchand is not charming, she's spirited and insightful and attuned to others. Her world is not 'charming.' It is however forthright, kind and true. We really don't see much of Sorrow's interaction with the ton. What we do see is her interaction with her very unusual family--one that is certainly far from any family her fiancé, the Honorable Bertram Carlyle, has envisioned. We do see is the growth of Bertram and Sorrow's relationship into one of true understanding and appreciation, and for Bertram the coming into being his own man. Until now he's been at the beck and call of his domineering father, Lord Newton. The early arrival of Bertram's father does put Sorrow through her paces. He's a very overbearing man who's completely thrown by the menagerie that comprises Sorrow's family. There's a lot to unpack in this interesting novella about love and worth and acceptance. Again I come back to the word unusual! A NetGalley ARC
Book preview
An Eccentric Engagement - Donna Lea Simpson
Cover
An Eccentric Engagement
Sorrow Marchand has patiently endured the taunts of London society for her bold speech and curious ways, yet it was those very qualities of the sparkling young beauty that caught the eye of the Honorable Bertram Carlyle and ultimately elicited an offer of marriage from him. But the usually candid Sorrow has kept her ludicrously madcap family a well-hidden secret from her betrothed—and now he is coming to visit!
Bertram was an exceedingly suitable suitor, but for all his many fine traits he had been harshly schooled under the oppressive thumb of his father and had meekly embraced many of the man’s conventional attitudes. Upon meeting Sorrow’s family and becoming swept up in the endless swirl of silly chaos, he senses a conflict of epic proportions on the horizon—both within himself and with his father.
As Sorrow grows more concerned that her outrageous relatives will damn her only chance at happiness with a man she truly loves, Bertram must find the courage to defy his very traditional father and become part of a family that’s anything but—and become the man Sorrow always knew he could be.
Title Page
Copyright
An Eccentric Engagement
Donna Lea Simpson
This is a revised edition of a novella originally published as Sorrow’s Wedding
in the anthology With This Ring, copyright © 2004, 2017 by Donna Lea Simpson.
Material excerpted from A Lady’s Choice copyright © 2016 by Donna Lea Simpson.
Cover design and illustration by Dar Albert, Wicked Smart Designs
Published by Beyond the Page at Smashwords
Beyond the Page Books
are published by
Beyond the Page Publishing
www.beyondthepagepub.com
ISBN: 978-1-946069-27-6
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
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Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Excerpt from A Lady’s Choice
Books by Donna Lea Simpson
About the Author
Chapter 1
Sorrow Marchand tugged a brush through her glossy blond curls as she sat at her dressing table and stared absently into the mirror, listening to the pacing outside her bedchamber door. In less than one month she would be married. She had attended the London Season as guest of her honorary aunt, Lady Spotswycke, and had caught the eye of a very eligible beau, the Honorable Mr. Bertram Carlyle, had been wooed, courted, asked and accepted his offer of marriage.
The pacing outside her bedchamber increased in speed. She smiled at the sound. When the pacer could no longer bear to keep her thoughts to herself she would burst in.
Marriage. She had her parents’ excellent example and felt confident of her decision. She was nervous, but not unduly so. Bertram was everything he should be, and perhaps more than he knew. They would be happy together, at least most of the time; she was convinced of it.
Finally, the pacer burst into her room and flung herself down on the stool beside Sorrow.
My dear,
Sorrow’s adoptive mother said, are you sure about everything? And have you . . . have you told Mr. Carlyle?
Composed—unnaturally so, some in London had cruelly said—for so young a woman, not yet twenty-one, Sorrow turned on her seat and gave her mother a quick hug. Mama, I’m sure. And he is Bert, not ‘Mr. Carlyle.’ He will be your son in just three weeks.
Mrs. Marchand worried at her lip with her teeth. "But have you told him?" she repeated.
Sorrow set her ornate silver brush aside on the mahogany dressing table. Told him what?
About us.
Of course I have. I told him about you and father and how dear you both are and how much he will love you when he comes to know you.
The older woman’s brow wrinkled into furrows, and she said, No, Sorrow dear, don’t avoid the subject. I meant have you told young Carlyle about—
A keening moan outside the door stopped them both, and then a thudding noise, followed by the bump bump bump of something—or someone—falling or jumping down the stairs echoed through the old house. Sorrow and her mother both listened, heads cocked, eyes unfocused.
When there was no further outcry, Sorrow murmured, It must be all right this time; if Joshua were hurt there would be such a ruckus.
Don’t avoid the subject, my dear. Have you told your future husband about us . . . about how we live. It is only fair that he know what he is marrying into.
With the perpetually sunny smile that belied her somber name, Sorrow took her mother’s hands in hers and rubbed them. Mama, don’t worry, please. Bertram is an excellent young man, very compassionate, good, sweet-natured, and with a sense of humor. He will not be alarmed. Once you meet him you’ll understand.
I wouldn’t be so sure of that,
Mrs. Marchand said, squeezing her daughter’s hand.
But you don’t know him, Mama,
Sorrow said, her oval face set in a most serious expression. Do you think I would have said yes to his proposal if I was not absolutely sure?
But you should have warned him, should have explained—
No,
the young woman said, holding up one hand. Please don’t say I should have alerted him what to expect. There is no way to describe our life to someone who has never been here, never met you and Papa and the others. In words it sounds . . . oh, ludicrous. Impossibly senseless. Absurd. But in truth it is so lovely and simple and perfect. So don’t say I should have warned him. I could never explain. And if I thought an explanation was necessary, then I would never have said yes to him.
I will trust your judgment, my dear. But what shall you do if he decides he simply cannot face living as we do?
I believe in Bertram, Mama,
she said, looking at her mother with a serene expression. It will never come to that.
Another noise arose in the hall, and someone rapped on Sorrow’s door.
Mrs. Marchand, Mr. Howard is having a bad turn, ma’am, an’ I’m not quite sure what to do.
I am coming, Letty,
Mrs. Marchand said, rising from the dressing table stool. Sorrow started to rise, too, but her mother pushed her back down and said, No, dear, you stay here. I want you to get a goodly amount of sleep tonight. I would not have you looking haggard for your Bertram. He arrives early, I imagine, if he is a proper young bridegroom.
She exited the room and Sorrow picked up the brush again, brushing her hair until sparks crackled and glittered in the dim reflection, all that could be seen by candlelight. Despite her calming words to her mother she did feel a momentary qualm. For one thing, Bert would not be early, she was sure of it. He was a very diffident young man in many ways, and not as eager for this marriage as her mother seemed to think. He would arrive by luncheon, perhaps, or later.
And then, though she would never have worried her mother with it, doubt assailed her in the dimness of her room. What if she was wrong? What if Bert was horrified by her life and her unusual family?
Then he was not