MISS PRESTWICK'S CRUSADE

Author: Anne Barbour ISBN: 9780709083467 5/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: ROBERT HALE
Time Period: Regency

Miss Helen Prestwick has completed her arduous journey from Portugal to England determined to ensure the future of her nephew, the twelfth Earl of Camberwell. Unfortunately, she has no evidence that the child is the son of Christopher Beresford who died in battle—and knows her claim will enrage Christopher's cousin Edward, who currently wields the title. Edward Beresford never wanted the earldom to be bestowed upon him, nor the familial and financial responsibilities that came with the title after his cousin's death, but he's not going to surrender the title without verifying the legitimacy of Helen's claim. Although Christopher's mother and sisters are pleased as punch at the possibility of a new heir, Edward finds himself enchanted with the child's lovely guardian, whose mission to usurp his title has also ensnared his heart.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

MISS PRESTWICK'S CRUSADE is a good, solid Regency that has two important differences from others of its ilk: Edward is not a devastatingly handsome rake that our heroine Helen falls in love on sight with (nor does she admit to any such thing), and both leads act in such a fashion that you truly believe they are their respective ages. Helen doesn't indulge in juvenile fits of sulking because Edward doesn't trust her on sight and Edward doesn't lash out at her in anger because he can't control his feelings. This might sound a little boring—where's the fun in that?—but truly their relationship progresses at a decent clip.

Helen is a strong character whose sincerity in regards to her young nephew's future are selfless. She doesn't wish to benefit from his birthright and says many times that once she is secure in the knowledge he will be taken care of, she will fade away. Edward is understandably skeptical—no marriage lines, dubious recounting of how his cousin married her sister and then the shadiness of their appearance does little to lend his trust. Of that fact that the child is his cousin's he has little doubt—the resemblance is remarked upon by many—what he doubts is the legitimacy of his birth.

At first I had thought that Helen would try to push the ticket that she was the boy's mother and I was unhappily waiting for that deception to begin, but thankfully, none of that happens. She is straight forward and honest with the facts. I was also pleased with how the secondary characters—Edward's aunt (Christopher's mother) and the rest of the family turned out. I had little hope upon first meeting them that they would be enjoyable to read about, but they proved me wrong.

The fact that Helen remains so distrustful of Edward for so long is a burden to the story; while understandable given her past, she admits that Christopher might have misjudged his cousin, yet still persists in believing the worst of him.

All in all, a fun read with a small mystery to keep things interesting.

Alexandra Cenni