Kitty Talbot needs a fortune. Or rather, she needs a husband who has a fortune. Her parents passed away, leaving Kitty to look after her four younger sisters. She also has to pay her father’s massive debts in the next twelve weeks, or she and her sisters will be on the streets.
Kitty leaves home in search of a rich husband. She heads to London where the season is to begin in a week. With the help of Aunt Dorothy, Kitty’s mother’s friend, Kitty and her younger sister Cecily tour the seasons. Dances and meetings galore. The first rich man Kitty stumbles across is the brother of Cecily’s school mate – Archibald De Lacy. Kitty has set her eyes on him.
But what she did not anticipate is Archie’s older brother’s interference. He does a background check on her and then asks her to stay away from his younger brother. So, Kitty makes a deal with him – Lord Radcliffe is to help her in finding a rich husband and in return, Kitty would leave Archie alone.
What a fun and delightful story! I absolutely enjoyed reading every bit of this marvelous masterpiece. Set in Regency London, Kitty is unlike other young women. She’s determined to save her younger sisters at any cost. To do that, she must find a rich husband.
As the story proceeds, we see Kitty and Aunt Dorothy discuss prospect suitors’ inheritance. If a man receives less than two thousand pounds per annum, Kitty rejects him. She’s looking for a man with infinite bank balance. Someone who can not only save her family home, close the withstanding debt, but also provide for her sisters until they are married off.
Aunt Dorothy had asked Kitty to bring one of her best-looking sisters. Kitty chose Cecily. She’s too young to be debuting and isn’t interested in men as of now. She loves poetry and any other form of art and is known to spend most of her time in her own artistic world.
Kitty is the main character in the story, but I cannot say I liked her much. In her ‘obsession’ to find a rich man, she’s ready to break hearts, make impatient decisions, and even go against people close to her. All she’s focused on is finding a rich husband. Other decisions, no matter how important to her close ones, is immaterial.
Some of the prospective suitors that Kitty meets are weirdos. One is shy – which Kitty learns later that he’s in love with someone else, while another is a self-obsessed/narcissist who’s only interested in ‘airing’ his ‘achievements.’ Then there’s one who pursues Kitty for a while until he learns she lives in a ‘cottage.’ The final one, is a mumma’s boy and if mumma says no, he won’t marry Kitty.
There’s a romance angle here. This story perfectly fits the trope enemies to lovers. But this particular romance doesn’t develop almost till the end – and it comes as a surprise to both Kitty and the other person.
Overall, this was an entertaining and enjoyable read. I loved the characters, storytelling, and the setting. If you are looking for a delightful read, you might want to give A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin a try.
I received an ARC from Edelweiss+ and Pamela Dorman Books/Harper Collins in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
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