The Painted Lady (Barbara Metzger)

Title: The Painted Lady
Author: Barbara Metzger
Copyright: 2001 (Signet); 217 pgs.
ISBN: 0-451-20368-2
Series: NA
Sensuality: Kisses
Genre: Historical Romance

Him: Kennard Wyndgate Cartland — K.C, or Kasey, to a select few. He’s a talented painter. Very few people actually know that Kasey paints. He’s the Duke of Caswell, and dukes don’t paint. To avoid becoming the laughingstock of the Beau Monde, Kasey maintains a private residence in Town. For a man of his rank, that’s not an unusual thing. After all, the Duke of Caswell could hardly entertain his mistresses in the family home where his maiden aunts and younger brother live. But the house serves another purpose. Once Kasey sends his latest paramour home for the night — they never stay — he immediately heads for the attic studio to paint her portrait from memory. If it means he’s up all hours until he’s satisfied with his work, then so be it. Painting is his greatest love, and it’s very possible Kasey would have allowed things to continue on as they were, if it weren’t for the fact that his latest project spoke to him. Literally. The woman in the painting tells him that he has no passion outside his art. That he is heartless libertine, willing to take mistress after mistress without actually ever falling in love. That even the woman he’s considering making his duchess, someday or other, won’t hold his interest past the honeymoon. Kasey thinks he’s gone mad, and eventually leaves London, seeking a cure.

Her: Lilyanne Bannister is a gentleman’s daughter. Had she and her younger sister Lisbet not been orphaned, Lilyanne would have been enjoying many of the pursuits of her class: parties, dances, a London season. Instead, she works for her uncle Sir Osgood Bannister, a physician. Sir Osgood, unfortunately, isn’t the type of physician one goes to when one has a cold or needs a broken bone set. He’s more interested in the mind and believes he can cure mental illness by a strict routine of fresh air, healthy diet, and quiet reflection. There is no excitement, color, or liveliness in the house. She hates it, and stays only because Sir Osgood pays for Lisbet’s education, something her sister will need in order to find a suitable position as a governess or lady’s companion. Once Lisabet’s future is secure, Lilyanne has every intention of seeking employment elsewhere. Marriage, she feels, is no longer an option for her.

What I liked: I liked both Kasey and Lilyanne. Kasey doesn’t have a dark past, nor has he been betrayed by a lover who’s action has set him against all other females. His mistresses have been the muses for his painting. He hasn’t found a woman that was both suitable to be his duchess and accepting of his art. Lilyanne sees his work and believes, duke or not, that Kasey ought to put his paintings on display, even if it’s just in a private areas of his home.

What I didn’t like:  The way the talking painting was depicted.  Not that I didn’t like the slight fantastical element to the story — I had no problem with suspending my belief.  She wasn’t depicted like one of the moving pictures from Harry Potter, which helped.  It was the characterization.  She sounded too modern and she used a lot of alliteration — “jug-bitten jackanapes”, “mutton-headed Michelangelo”, etc.  She used it so much, I thought it was jarring.  Fortunately, the scenes aren’t long and there aren’t many.

Final Thoughts: Though this isn’t my favorite Metzger, I still enjoyed the story. It had it’s cute moments and some fun characters. There’s a bit of a mystery, requiring Kasey to deal with a practical Bow Street Runner. I would recommend it to others who enjoy the category historicals and don’t mind a bit of fantasy in them. As they say, your mileage may vary when it comes to the characterization of the painting.

Start: 5 January 2011
Finished: 10 January 2011

Favorite Quote:
“Your Grace, there are dresses in my room.”
“Yes, that’s where they’ll be most convenient. I could have them moved to the butler’s pantry, but I doubt old Henesley will appreciate them.”
— Lilyanne, Kasey

Rating:

Enjoyed it!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Jack of Clubs

Author: Barbara Metzger
ISBN: 0-451-21805-1 (Signet Eclipse)
Finished: 2 September 2007
Who: Miss Allison Silver and Captain Jonathan “Jack” Endicott
When: 1815
2nd in the House of Cards trilogy

From the back: Years ago, Captain Jack Endicott’s young half-sister vanished after a carriage accident. Now, hardened by fighting in the Peninsular wars, Jack sets out to honor his father’s dying wish that he find the missing girl. Disdainful of “proper” gentlemanly pursuits and refusing to live off his noble brother, Jack makes a bold play. He’ll open a lavish gaming parlor in London — and, by hiring only beautiful ladies to deal cards, possibly find his sister. All he needs is a little luck.

Comments: In the second book of the series, Jack Endicott is looking forward to enjoying himself. He hasn’t forgotten his promise to his father: the gaming club also acts as a headquarters for his search for Lady Charlotte. He’s hired many of his former, now-unemployed soldiers to assist him in both endeavors. Before long, the club is a success, but the search is proving fruitless. Nevertheless, Jack is enjoying his carefree, bachelor life

Enter Miss Harriet Hildebrand and Miss Allison Silver. Harriet is the orphaned granddaughter of a viscount with no other place to go. Miss Silver is a teacher from her school – which burnt down under mysterious circumstances. Allie hopes to deliver her charge into the hand’s of the girl’s legal guardian, and possibly be hired as the girl’s governess. She isn’t thrilled to learn that the only person who they can turn to is the owner of a club. Her reputation is all she has left of any value. Staying at the club can hurt her future employment prospects.

Jack is surprised that anyone would name him as a guardian. A second son, with no other prospects than what he can either make or marry into, he feels he’s the least qualified person to be entrusted with the girl’s welfare. He is willing to take Harriet, but he also wants Miss Silver to stay. She knows how to cope with Harriet and it will save him the trouble of trying to hire a replacement. Besides, Harriet also wants her to stay.

Money, Jack’s aversion toward marriage, and Allie’s attitude regarding gambling and gamblers are their biggest obstacle. At first, Jack’s not attracted to Allie, but as he spends more time with her, his contentment with his life as a club owner and bachelor begins to wane. Allie is definitely attracted to him, but knows his feelings about marriage. Harriet adores Jack and knows that he and Allie should be together. But who would listen to an eight-year-old?

I enjoyed the book very much. I like Barbara Metzger’s style. I have several of her early books in my TBR and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Enjoyed it!

Never did Alexander “Ace” Endicott, the Earl of Carde, imagine himself to be thrice-betrothed against his will by the doings of three desperate debutantes. So he escapes London to his property in the country, where he follows through with his deceased father’s last wish-to find his long-lost step-sister. His search takes a detour and leads him to Nell, who piques his interest. Now, Ace may have to reconsider his rejection of marriage and see if two mismatched lovers can make a royal pair.

1st in the House of Cards trilogy
Author: Barbara Metzger
ISBN: 0-451-21626-1 (Signet)
Finished: 9 June 2006
Who: Alexander Chalfont Endicott, Earl of Carde, and Eleanor Sloan

Alex and Nell are not the paragons of physical perfections you normally come across in romance. Alex has poor eyesight, wears spectacles, and has a rather beaky nose. He’s also somewhat marriage shy and cautious. Nell isn’t a stunning beauty and is mostly happy being a country miss, taking care of a batty old lady and her own brother.

Like several of Georgette Heyer’s heroes, Alex sets off to take care of a particular task — find out what happened to his half-sister Charlotte — but gets embroiled into something else entirely. Before he knows it, he’s consulting an old woman who chats with dead people, being attack by a over protective and jealous gander, nearly mauled to death by a horse, and fending off the advances of a very determined daughter of a duke. His rewards for all this suffering are (1) several pieces to the puzzle surrounding the death of his step-mother and the disappearance of his half-sister, and (2) a countess of Carde.

I hope we see more of Aunt Hazel, the late Countess of Carde’s batty relative. She talks to dead people and is a riot.

Liked A Lot