Lady For A Season
By Melissa Addey
Publication Date: 27th August 2024
Publisher: Letterpress Publishing
Page Length: 320 Pages
Genre: Regency Romance / Historical Romance
A young duke declared mad. His nurse masquerading as a lady. One social season in which to marry him off. What could possibly go wrong?
When foundling Maggie takes a job caring for Edward, she knows him only as a young man declared mad and kept privately under the care of a physician to avoid any scandal for his family.
But Edward is the heir to the Duke of Buckingham and when his father dies his family is determined to marry him off to secure the title and the estate. Edward insists that Maggie stay by his side, so she must be passed off as a lady for one social season, during which time a marriage can be arranged.
When a midnight carriage comes for Maggie, is she ready for the makeover of a lifetime? Can she remember all the rules, keep the secrets of Atherton Park… and above all, avoid falling in love?
A delightful Regency romance, full of historical detail and emotional choices, as two downtrodden characters come to know their true worth and what they mean to each other. The Season has begun, the ton is gathered… and the clock is ticking for Maggie and Edward. Here is your invitation to the romance of the season, buy Lady for a Season today.
There was something wrong with him. Wasn’t that what everyone said, even his mother? If he were better, then he would not have to endure the doctor’s horrendous treatments. But he wasn’t getting any better.
Without any say in the matter, Maggie becomes a companion to Edward. But, after spending time with Edward, Maggie could not see the madness that the doctor spoke of. All she saw was a frightened young man who needed her help. But when a carriage came in the dead of night and took Edward forcefully away, Maggie did not know what to do. She had no idea who had kidnapped Edward, nor where he had gone.
The Duchess of Buckingham is desperate to marry Edward (the new heir to the dukedom of Buckingham) as quickly as possible before his madness returns, but he will not cooperate with anything unless Maggie is sent for.
But for Maggie to care for him properly, she needs to go where Edward does, which means she will have to cast aside her foundling origins and become a lady, a distant relative to her Grace. But could she pull off such a deception, and could she watch the man she cares so much for marry another?
This may well be one of the most moving love stories ever written. Forget the tragedy of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, for that masterpiece is nothing compared to Melissa Addey’s, Lady For A Season.
This is not your average love story, nor is it your average Regency Romance. The hero and heroine meet under the most torturous and agonising situations, for he is declared mad, and she is to be his companion.
Initially, Edward is not treated as a rational human being. Instead, he is a lunatic. He has an illness that must be cured, although Doctor Morrison remains sceptical about Edward’s potential to return home and resume his societal position. To the doctor, Edward is seen as a man without wit or intelligence. The doctor’s treatment, which can only be described as endless torture, has crushed his spirit. As a result, he has come to accept the doctor’s narrative and now genuinely believes that he must be insane. It is not until Maggie is employed as his companion that he begins to feel a flicker of hope. Maggie might not have the power to stop the doctor's sadistic torture, but he was certain she would be there for him throughout his treatment and afterwards, once the doctor had left. She gives him courage, whereas before, he had none.
Unlike the doctor, Maggie can see with her own eyes that Edward is not as mad as he is being made out to be. He has suffered greatly, and she can empathise with that suffering. She is determined to make his life as bearable as she possibly can. Maggie may be employed as his companion, but very soon she regards him as a dear friend and one that needs protecting. Addey’s depiction of the treatment Edward has to endure shines a light on the harrowing way people with mental illnesses were treated during this era. She also demonstrates how easy it was for a person to be committed. There are, therefore, some very distressing scenes in this novel so be prepared and have some tissues ready.
Maggie is a character who a reader can instantly connect with. She is an unfailingly kind woman who does everything she can to make Edward’s life as bearable as possible. But while his need for her company is evident, she soon discovers her need for his is just as strong. No matter what obstacles come their way, they can handle it, even if it means pretending to be a lady during a London Season to stay by his side in case, he needs her. Maggie is a character that was very easy to like, she is a total contrast to the people around Edward. She offers him stability, security and a chance to find his true self, and to realise that not everything the doctor said was true. Likewise, Edward is a character that despite being so very broken, is so kind of heart that a reader cannot but sympathise with him and love him as much as Maggie does. I thought the depiction of these two characters was masterfully portrayed.
Addey has drawn a very believable London Season with all of its silk, muslin and gold threads. The balls, receptions, and trips to the theatre all lead up to two things: firstly, for aristocratic mothers to find suitable matches for their daughters; and secondly, to acquire an Almack’s voucher, upon approval by one of the lady patronesses of course! The gilded glamour of Almack’s has been fabulously portrayed. Addey provides a clear depiction of the fashionable Assembly Rooms, where the highest social class gathered to see and be seen. More importantly, she reminds her readers that for the gentlemen seeking a bride from the crème de la crème of the ton, it served as nothing short of a marriage mart. The pressure put on the débutantes to snare themselves a suitable match reminds the reader that marriage was rarely a love match for the nobility. Wealth, power and titles were the order of the day. Edward is desirable because he is a duke and every mother would love to boast that their daughter is the new Duchess of Buckingham. Maggie is desirable because of her “family connections.” If not married to a duke, marrying a beloved family member was the next best thing. With a clear understanding of the era, Addey skilfully depicts the relentlessness of the Season, the repetitive social gatherings, and the monotonous house calls, all of which offer a glimpse into the aristocratic society’s way of life during the Regency era.
Addey’s novel is deserving of praise for its historical accuracy and meticulous attention to detail. The extensive research put into this novel is evident in the captivating narrative and the crystalline prose, showcasing both the historical detail and the portrayal of how mentally ill patients were treated during this era. Not only does Addey demonstrate a sensitivity to this period, but she also possesses an innate understanding of the intended audience for this book. Addey’s ability to create compelling Regency Romance narratives is truly unparalleled. This is a book that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.
Lady For A Season by Melissa Addey impresses with its sweeping brilliance and captivating storytelling. I was completely swept away by this book’s emotional scenes and its message about finding enduring love in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. It is a novel that will stay with the reader long after they have turned that final page.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde
Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion
Pick up your copy of
Lady For A Season
HERE!
Melissa Addey
I grew up and was home educated on an Italian hill farm. I now live in London with my husband, two children and a black and white cat called Holly who enjoys the editing process as there is so much scrap paper involved.
I mainly write historical fiction, inspired by what I call ‘the footnotes of history’: forgotten stories or part-legends about interesting people and places. I have a PhD in Creative Writing, for which I wrote The Garden of Perfect Brightness and an academic thesis about balancing fact and fiction in historical fiction.
I like to move from one historical era to another, finding stories to share, like a travelling minstrel. So far I’ve been to Ancient Rome, medieval Morocco, 18th century China and Regency England. Join me on my travels: browse my books.
If you’d like to know more about me and my books, join me behind the scenes for interviews, videos from my research trips, character profiles and more.
Connect with Melissa:
