The Deception of the Emerald Ring

Author: Lauren Willig
Published: November 16, 2006 (Dutton)
Category: Historical Romance
Series: Pink Carnation #3
Quote of Choice: He could have been a knock-kneed dwarf with a hook for an arm and still made it to the upper end of the matrimonial lists. Viscounts, after all, weren't exactly thick on the ground, not even in Mayfair.

I have been so excited about this book being published! I think it's a bit different from the first two though, because the heroine is someone we barely know, and the hero is Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe, a member of the League of the Purple Gentian. He's also the last bachelor in the group, which makes me wonder who'll star in the next book. Maybe Willig will create a romance for Jane. We'll see what happens in the fourth book! I'd actually be interested in seeing a good portion of the next book focus on the developing romance between Eloise (our modern-day narrator) and Colin Selwick, descendant of Richard Selwick, the Purple Gentian. Three books have gone by and they haven't KISSED while I've read the stories about three young ladies in the past have done some improper frolicking of their own.

Anyways, Letty Alsworthy wakes up one night to find that her sister Mary is about to elope with Geoffrey. Now, the Alsworthys aren't exactly in great social standing, what with their financial state (not good). Her parents are counting on their daughters marrying well, and Letty thinks that her sister's running off in the middle of the night will not help their family's reputation. Since Mary's taking her sweet time packing, Letty sneaks downstairs to convince Geoff that it's not a good idea to elope. Unfortunately, the coachman packs her into the carriage to meet Geoff, not realizing he's got the wrong woman. And then Geoff winds up kissing her because it's dark and he doesn't realize soon enough that it's not Mary. Everything would've turned out like Geoff had planned if he hadn't been spotted holding Letty, in her nightdress, by two of their acquaintances.

So Geoff does the honorable thing and marries Letty since her reputation's been compromised. However, he's so angry at her, thinking that she was a conniving younger sister who planned to take her sister's place, and thus keep him from his true love. The thing is, Geoff was never really in love with Mary. How well can you really know someone from a few meetings at balls and musicales when there's a crowd of suitors waiting to take your place?

Geoff's work with the league sends him off to Ireland on the same day as his wedding and he doesn't tell Letty where he's going. He leaves her and she doesn't stand for it. Miles and Henrietta (of Masque of the Black Tulip) tell her where Geoff's run off to and Letty follows him to Dublin under a rather unimaginative alias, Mrs. Alsdale. There, she meets Jane (a.k.a. the Pink Carnation) and Miss Gwen. It was a bit awkward at first when she thought Geoff was having an affair with Jane, but all was cleared up and Letty became a part of their spying endeavors. She was very bad at the dissembling involved with espionage, but it was safer to keep her close.

In the midst of all this intrigue, Geoff realizes that Letty couldn't possibly be the scheming, evil sister he thought she was, what with the way she couldn't even flirt with another man and the completely honest way she comported herself. And with that realization, they could start all over again. [Insert boinking]

I believe this was my least favorite of the three novels for two reasons. First, Letty and Geoff didn't have much time together. It's hard to explain, but in my mind, they weren't happy together long enough to satisfy my "happy ending" quota. Second, Eloise and Colin's budding romance is driving me bonkers! How many more books do I have to read before they're a couple? Otherwise, Willig is in fine form with her writing. The relationship seems so real because the dialogue is so good. Good dialogue is a must for me; that's why I couldn't get through The Lord of the Rings. As always, I can't wait to read the next book!