Charity Effington learned two valuable lessons from her first betrothal: 1) When one loses the attention of an earl, one gains the attention of every gossip in London. 2) Despite the lingering scandal, she’s not prepared to marry for anything less than love.
After an exhausting Season, Bath’s first annual music festival offers Charity the perfect escape. Between her newly formed trio and her music-loving grandmother, Charity is free to play the pianoforte to her heart’s content. That is, until their insufferably rude, though undeniably handsome, neighbor tells her to keep the “infernal racket” to a minimum.
Hugh Danby, Baron Cadgwith, may think he’s put an end to the noise, but he has no idea what he’s begun. Though the waters of Bath provide relief from the suffering of his war injuries, he finds his new neighbor bothersome, vexing, and…inexplicably enchanting. Before long, Hugh suspects that even if his body heals, it’s his heart that might end up broken.
I really enjoyed this. It was the right book at the right time. I liked all the female characters - the grandmother was the best - but Charity, Sophie and May were well developed too. The romance between Hugh and Charity was highly amusing and swoon-worthy at the right points. I liked the focus on music and Charity being a composer in her own right. It seemed short, although I know it was over 300 pages but I flew through it - it was lighthearted easy read.
