By Elizabeth Cadell

This was Elizabeth Cadell at her finest. In most ways, it is a perfect example of the amusing old-fashioned English stories she writes. Everything typically revolves around a romance of varying importance to the plot, but there are always plenty of side stories and characters to entertain.

In the usual Cadell story, a nice, good, and attractive hero or heroine has somehow lost the plot and is not living his or her best life. They are often dominated by the wrong romantic partner. They leave the city for the country and find what is missing in their life. Usually, they are shown the way by getting involved, against their will, with someone who seems totally wrong for them, but turns out to be the right romantic partner after all. And throw in an eccentric character (usually elderly) or two that also contribute to our main character starting to see things in a different light. But this one set itself apart in more than a few ways:

1. A more deliciously nasty than usual fiancé for our hero to escape from. After Edmund gets back from his little life-changing vacation in Portugal, he is (cluelessly) looking forward to reconnecting with his beautiful, dignified, and sensible Angela again. To his befuddlement, he is greeted by her horrible mother who returns Angela’s engagement ring. He has committed the ultimate sin of doing something counter to his strong-willed fiancé’s stated wishes (orders). She will not even speak to him until he fixes what (she thinks) he did. Edmund handles the situation with grace and dignity. Unfortunately for Angela, Edmund has started to get a new perspective on life in general and doesn’t come to heel immediately as she expected. This is thanks to meeting…
2. Fran. And her little family while at his little farm in Portugal, Montebarca. She is a real charmer and the complete opposite of everyone he is used to: openhearted, kind, talkative, and spontaneous. To top it off, she loves and appreciates the primitive Montebarca, unlike his luxury-loving fiancé. She is made even more likable by …
3. The narration by Anna Guerrier. She gave our heroine Fran a real Hayley Mills vibe, and I can’t imagine the rest of the characters any other way but how she interpreted them. I love the way she gave Edmund a quietness that was an intriguing contrast with Fran’s garrulous personality.
4. Portugal. The author obviously knows and loves this country, and, as in many of her books, it becomes almost a third character. A metaphor exposing everything that is wrong with “London” Edmund and his normal life there. Edmund’s love for the country and his Montebarca reveal that he is a man worth saving from himself and his poor taste in fiancés.
5. There was one really great confrontation between Fran and Edmund after Edmund finds out how Fran interfered in his life behind his back. Edmund really lets fly, telling her off, and as much as I loved Fran and her generous heart, I was like, “He’s right! How dare she!” Then Fran had a go defending herself and eviscerating his character, and I changed my mind again.
6. There were some real surprises towards the end. Everything looked like it was wending its way predictably towards a lovely happy ending, but wait. Not so fast. There is a little secret that is revealed that puts a surprising new slant on Edmund’s two eccentric relatives he has given a home to and his supposed act of generosity towards them. And then all of our friends are confronted with scandal and infamy and end up in court. London is rocked. Didn’t expect that at all!

I can’t remember if justice is ever served to the meanies offstage in any of Cadell’s novels. But the comeuppances are front and center here. It was classic Cadell, but extra. An absolute delight.