Volume 2 of this delightful series covers May through June, 1883. During those two months, Emma is intent on finding ways to supplement her income so as to hold on to Lapis Lazuli House. Simultaneously, she must keep her elder relatives out of her way and help her dear cousin Arabella (and formidable Aunt Eugenia) negotiate the social season and find the right husband. Along the way, Emma has a number of interesting encounters with handsome young men – two who are wealthy, one who is dangerous, and one who is a bit mysterious. Emma is focused on her financial situation and independence, and it is not clear what role, if any, these fellows could play in helping her realize her dreams or force them to come crashing down. As ever, Emma is smart, funny and resourceful as she negotiates the social season and the unexpected quirks of everyday life in the neighborhood known as St Crispian’s.
I love the character Emma because despite some very tragic circumstances, she manages to hold on to her sense of humor and her determination to become independent. She is young, charming and lovely but doesn’t seem to recognize the power that she might have over young men and she doesn’t seem terribly interested in finding a match. She sees her role as an aide to the beautiful Arabella, who for her part is only too happy to let her mother set her up with eligible men. Emma attends teas, balls and other social outings with Aunt Eugenia and Arabella as sort of a “wing woman.” She draws off the unwanted suitors and helps her cousin appear in the best possible light. Arabella is not a romantic; she trusts her mother to find her someone who will help her live a life of comfort and ease. Emma, however, is a bit of a romantic. We now know that several years ago, Emma lost the young man she loved to war in Afghanistan. She has never really recovered from that heartbreak but it looks like she might have to confront it soon. The new tenant in Lapis Lazuli, Niall Pierce, was himself injured in the war and had been a war correspondent and photographer. I love the relationship developing between Emma and Niall; they live on opposite sides of the garret and pass notes through a crack in the wall. Then there is the wealthy and eligible bachelor Roland Sutherland. Emma has known and loathed him since childhood when he used to torment her, but he has turned into a handsome and somewhat charming young man who genuinely likes Emma; Emma, despite herself, might genuinely like him too. Duke Islington, one of Emma’s neighbors in St Crispian’s, is very wealthy and handsome, far out of Emma’s league, but she draws his attention (not necessarily a good thing) when she comes into possession of his diary. The story of that is one of the interesting quirks of life in St Crispian’s, and I look forward to seeing what happens between these two. Finally there is Jack Hollingstell, a somewhat disreputable young man who is friends with Emma’s school friend Mary. Jack seems to be adept at gambling, thievery, and acting. The scene that he and Emma share at her old school was very funny, and I am curious to learn more about Jack.
Beth Brower’s writing is so much fun to read. It reminds me of PG Wodehouse — full of hilarity and inanity. There’s a scene at the beginning of this volume where “Young Hawkes” the minister is sermonizing on Joseph and the coat of many colors, and his rowdy, inebriated university chums heckle from the back pews. It reminded me very much of Bertie Wooster and his idiot friends. The Roman ghost seems intent on causing mischief and I look forward to more of his shenanigans as well as the odd phenomenon in St Crispian’s where random items disappear from people’s homes only to appear in others’ possession. Everyone just accepts that it happens and they have arranged a place for leaving these items and getting them back to their rightful owners. These books are tremendously entertaining and I can’t wait to get on to Volume 3.
