The Lady's Maid

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Two female babies denied their birth mothers and brought up in very different, yet side by side circumstances.

From the start, the story regarding two babies born on the same day and delivered by the same woman seemed a bit unlikely. It begins in the night on a hill where a Romany woman awaits the birth of her daughter’s illegitimate child for whom she has arranged a home. I know this happens in fiction, but usually it's because they are seeking the person they suddenly find. Kate hurried homeward as fast as the iron-clad pattens would allow, wrapping her thin shawl a little tighter around her head and shoulders.I especially appreciated the clear presentation of the way different strata of society lived, demonstrated both in description and simple comments about how only the wealthy have the luxury of not knowing how much coin they possess. In this novel, they just seem to happen upon each other, in the wrong part of the country and for no apparent reason other than that it needs to happen to continue the story. She is often repentant after the fact and occasionally shows flashes of maturity even at her worst though they don’t last. Although the reader can see the way the book will go the reader stays interested and needs to find out how things unwind.

This was a good "guilty pleasure" historical romance, as tasty and insubstantial as a box of chocolates. Another flaw is that several times when the principle characters are at rock bottom, rescuers suddenly appear out of nowhere. I also feel these books should have a glossary to show the meaning of some words as I always have to refer to a dictionary for a number of words. The child of a noblewoman born out of wedlock is also in her care after she found the mother already in labor by the river. Normally a protagonist of hers falls on hard times, and is destitute in London for most of the novel.You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. The first portrayal was enough to make me worry the author shared the views of that period, but then as the story unfolds, a much more nuanced view comes into play. Two desperate young mothers give up their babies on the same day, and while Kate grows up in poverty, Josie lives a privileged life. This fit the bill: a princess and the pauper fairytale, as it were, with evil uncles and stepmother, two foundlings, honorable men (and a few dishonorable ones), and a story that rockets between country estates and London's East End, and a happy ending, of course.

If you like historical fiction with strong personalities, tangles built out of society’s expectations, a love story, and a touch of mystery, this is one not to miss. While some might protest the love story for Kate and Harry (a man whose wealth comes from trade), including Kate, there are enough historical accounts to show that love did defeat the class and wealth barriers, especially among those who earned their wealth. One major plot flaw is that it is never really clear why either of the men fall in love with their respective women. The Romany grandmother finds a safe home for this girl as well, both children growing up believing themselves legitimate. She is married with two grown-up children and four grandchildren, and now lives in Dorset on the beautiful Jurassic Coast with her husband.

One of the men, despite being smitten, leads another girl on for almost the entire book and although there are suggestions that it's to protect her honour, this is suspect and doesn't quite ring true given the circumstances. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions. Kate, on the other hand, takes charge of every circumstance with her practical hard working personality, overcoming every obstacle except her sense of place. Still, rather than being bitter toward her childhood friend, Kate does her best to help Josie come safely through whatever wild plan she’s dragged Kate into.

Whilst Kate grows up knowing only poverty and servitude, Josie's world is one of privilege and luxury.Until a chance meeting forces Kate and Josie to confront the truth of that night nearly twenty years before - a truth that turns both worlds upside down and threatens to destroy their friendship forever. The story begins with an awkward friendship between a spoiled, manipulative lady and her lifelong friend who begins the book as a beleaguered housemaid. until a chance meeting forces them to face the truth of that night nearly twenty years before a truth turning both their worlds upside down and maybe breaking up their friendship for ever. Another enjoyable read from Dilly Court set in the mid 19th century, however, I found it full of unbelievable occurrences. This is the second historical novel I have read by Dilly Court, and once again, she sunk me into the period with all the prejudice and classism endemic in the 1800s.