Most Recent Retro Read
Red Jack's Daughter
by Edith Layton
ISBN: 0451129148
Published 1984 by Signet
Miss Jessica Eastwood is a soldier's daughter. Her father 'Red Jack' loved his 'little soldier' dearly, but he couldn't stay away from his military life. Jess lived for his visits and wanted nothing more than to look after him once he finally retired. But Red Jack was killed at Vitoria, and Jess's Oak Hill home went to her Cousin Cribb and his nasty wife Mathilda.
Jess was advised that her father had left her a legacy but that she must visit his London lawyer to find out about it. Sir Selby (Ollie), her father's old friend, insists that she stay with his good friend Lady Grantham. Both of them believe Jess's only possible provision must come from marriage, so Lady Grantham takes on the task of introducing Jess to Society. Jess has absolutely no interest in any such thing; she has been raised with direct manners nearer those of a gentleman than a young lady. She much prefers to be an invisible observer rather than the center of attention.
Jess's first appearance is at Lady Swanson's ball, where she horrifies Lady Grantham by declining to dance with her nephew, Alexander, Lord Leith. Despite receiving the cut direct from Jess, Alex feels he owes Ollie and he resolves to bring Jess into fashion. "It would be, he thought momentarily, an amusing expedition, a vastly amusing diversion, this getting an officer and a gentleman into proper petticoats."
This is really more of a coming of age novel than a romance per se, since the main focus is on Jess as she finds out more about her family, her father, her legacy, the way of the world and her own self. The characters are dimensional, the events are interesting and plausible, and there is Layton's slyly humorous style to enjoy. I can therefore overlook what is probably that annoying 'Sir Lastname' error -- I suspect Sir Selby's full name is Sir Oliver Selby, not Sir Selby Oliver -- because I like the rest of the book so much. (Posted by Janice 3/11/10)
