The synonymous Miss Hannah Pym is back again with another adventure this time on the road to Bath. The weather is again treacherous but that does not put off Hannah. Travelling on The Quicksilver this time, Hannah has a rather mix of travelling companions. Mr Judd a bully of a husband who does nothing to avail himself as the stronger of the sexes, seemingly delicate Mrs Judd who whimpers in the corner platitudes to her husband. Miss Belinda Earle is being sent to Bath in disgrace after a bout of bad behaviour with a footman and her companion Miss Wimple who is supposedly her moral guidance but nothing more than a gossip, sets to ruin Miss Earle’s reputation.
As the happy or not so happy party, depart on the coach, they are put down in Maidenhead for the night where the dandy coachman carries on his drinking and by the time they set off again in the cold of morning, he may well have reached his limit and not be able to control the stage coach at all. But he can control the coach whether drunk or sober, and the party continues. Mrs Judd is aware of something that will affect them all and is proved right when Hannah observes that the coachman has fallen asleep as the whole coach with its passengers are cascaded into the icy cold river. Here we are introduced to more characters, the Marquess of Frenton who happened to be riding his estate, Baddell Castle, to avoid the company and wishes of Sir Henry and Lady Jordan and their daughter Penelope who are after a matrimonial match with the confirmed bachelor Frenton.
Frenton rescues the said party and they are deposited into his home, rather than taken to the nearest available inn to recover and wait while a replacement coachman and guard are sent to take over the journey. Frenton hopes this might move The Jordan’s on. But they seem intent to stay regardless of these unexpected guests.
The time spent at Baddell Castle sees Hannah observing of her travelling fellows and realises that Miss Belinda Earle is too outspoken and forthright in her approach with men, after having an unsuccessful season and a flighty attitude to love. Marquess of Frenton has spotted something lively in this girl, and Hannah uses that to carry on her matchmaking, whilst at the same time showing the Judd’s the value of respect for each other as well as the opportunity for work and bettering themselves and even penetrating the cold exterior of Miss Wimple.
The story goes along at a good pace, and when you think all matches have been made, then something else surprises Hannah and us the reader. But you know that within a few pages, all will be well and even some incorrect behaviour for the time is somewhat glossed over because it all has resulted in love matches. Miss Hannah Pym can return to London and decide on her next journey but also all the matchmaking makes her realise her longing for some of her own. What will happen on her next adventure?
These are short books, less than 200 pages and have made for great escapist romantic reading. I hope I do not bore with my reviews of them, two following in such a short space of time. At the moment, I seem to be devouring books at a rate of knots!
The Book Jotter 