Desiring the Governess by Jane Charles

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Backbone, Bad Deceptions, and a Missing Hero

A spectacular eavesdropping failure sets this Regency romp in motion. When Althea mistakenly assumes her uncle is marrying her off to his aging best friend, she promptly flees to Willanton. There she encounters Lord Preston Ambrose, who fled London to care for his five nieces after the tragic deaths of his brother and sister-in-law. Preston vanished from the ballrooms for another reason, too: he stutters when flustered. Naturally, rather than using his words, the overwhelmed guardian opts for deception and hires Althea as a governess.

While the story is generally well-played, Preston loses all credibility during the tavern scene. Taking advantage of Althea instead of telling the truth isn't the mark of a gentleman, and a speech impediment is no excuse for a total lapse in honor. The real savior of the story is the local dressmaker, who actually possesses the backbone the two main characters lack. She easily figures out Preston's issue, solves the problem, and thoroughly steals the show.