Often in medieval times, arranged marriages between warring estates made an alliance and a peace. The practice stopped as the British monarchs assumed more authority than the individual barons. Aristocrats married instead for prestige, wealth, even political power. Women were allowed some choice in their marriage partners, except in the marriage of honor. Whenever a young aristocratic maiden was found in a compromising position, which didn’t take much, she had to marry the man or be socially ruined. Lady Alys Margaret Middleton finds herself in a similar situation in Surrey Secret.

Alys is a traditional English Miss with auburn tresses, sky blue eyes, and a shy manner. She is delighted to spend time with her mysterious father, the Earl of Osborne. Their trip to Bath goes awry when Osborne suffers a heart seizure. Certain he’s dying. he mumbles a few cryptic words and places a letter in Alys’ hands. The distraught woman flags down the next carriage despite the post boy’s advice against such actions.

Kenward William Dunleigh, Marquess of Armitage is shaken awake from his brandy-induced sleep by his carriage’s abrupt stop. As one of England’s top spies, he doesn’t often resort to drowning his troubles with a bottle. The woman in the road strikes his curiosity, but he has found things aren’t what they always seem. Even in the flickering illumination of the coach lights, he finds the woman alluring with her rounded curves and Heaven-blue eyes glistening with tears. He changes his belief that she is a shrill in a con when he sees the obviously ill earl. Being a gentleman, instinct and heritage demand that he shelters and protects the chance-met stranger.

Life becomes more complicated for the troubled young woman after she arrives at Dunleigh’s luxurious home. She realizes the impropriety of being in a man’s home without an appropriate chaperone and writes for her maid to join her. Alys also has her father’s letter, which must go to Chichester immediately. Then there is the issue that Dunleigh’s family blames her father for the death of Dunleigh’s Uncle George. It’s enough to make a girl cry, which she does.

Dunleigh has plans for the proper young miss he discovered on the country road. She would fit his need for a wife quite well. The fact that her family is anathema to his is an issue. Her sudden outburst of tears naturally causes him to comfort her in the only way he knows how by embracing her. Whitby, his gossipy neighbor, witnesses the embrace and is ready to spread the scene and far and wide. Dunleigh proposes, which still suits his purpose to an extent. His family will not be pleased, but that’s only if Alys accepts him.

Marry Dunleigh! Alys doesn’t even want to be in the same house with a man that would blame her father for his Uncle George’s ill-advised trip to France and death. Something isn’t right. She needs more information. What is in the letter that is so important? Alys is willing to fight for her future instead of letting Dunleigh decide it. True, he is a wealthy, handsome peer of the realm. Her heart beats faster whenever he is near, but she can’t marry a stranger—that’s what he is. If only her father could advise her. Unfortunately, she is on her own.

The characters in Surrey Secret come off as being rather stereotypical. Alys the extra-virginal maiden who cries about everything is not likable. Dunleigh is not fleshed out enough to be interesting. Instead, he comes across as a Regency period James Bond. The supporting characters are very thin and do not add to the story. The entire novel has the feel of a regency of about twenty years ago. Regencies have changed with the characters becoming more complex and fun.

The book drags through the familiar world of London’s Upper Two Thousand. Regency fans will stub their toes several times on lack of physical chemistry, inappropriate word use and setting detail. Some books I race through to get to the scintillating conclusion, others I linger over witty dialogue, I did neither in this book. The story shows promise, but needs work to deliver on its potential.

Reviewed by Morgan Wyatt
© August 2006