Where has Karen Ranney been all my life? I suspect she’s been in the world of romance for quite some time, but I was over here behind my rock and failed to notice. Hardly surprising as I’m always the last woman on board, perennially late to everything, including fabulous authors. I shouldn’t admit this publicly, but I only ‘discovered’ Loretta Chase last year. Now, I’ve discovered yet another new (to me) author and I’m absolutely delighted. It appears from the inside cover of this book, Ms. Ranney has a largish backlist – how lovely! I’ll be spending some cash at the bookstore in the very near future. But enough about me missing boats. On to the review.
The year is 1850 and Grant Roberson, the 10th Earl of Straithern, is burying the second of his brothers to die within the year. He is the last of them, and while the family physician, Dr. Fenton, believes Grant’s brothers died from a blood ailment, Grant believes they may have been poisoned. He begins enquiries to discover if he has a distant relative who might covet the earldom, the fortune, and the Scottish estate enough to resort to murder, but discovers nothing to indicate such. Nevertheless, Grant decides to wed as soon as possible, to beget an heir in the event he falls ill and dies. Whether due to a blood ailment, or poison, he worries he may not be around much longer.
Grant is a busy man, running the large estate, but he also spends a great deal of time experimenting with electrics. He’s a scientist, devoted to his research. Not necessarily anti-social. Just busy. Taking the time to look for a bride in Edinburgh is out of the question. Not to mention, he and his mother are in mourning. He asks Dr. Fenton about his daughter, Arabella, if he might simply marry her and be done with it. A true marriage of convenience. The good doctor is no fool – he accepts immediately, and it’s decided he will bring Arabella to Rosemoor for one month, that she and Grant can get to know one another. She’ll be accompanied by her father and Arabella’s companion, Gillian Cameron.
Gillian came to live with the doctor and became companion to his beautiful daughter after she caused a scandal and was turned out of her home by her wealthy merchant father and his second wife. Dr. Fenton took her in and she’s been with him and Arabella for two years. Though she feels her position is rather pointless, because Arabella rarely speaks to her, Gillian sticks with it to prove her worth. If the doctor gives her the sack, she’ll be homeless, up against it, and forced to sell herself for money. The scandal she caused will hinder her ability to secure employment with a seamstress or find another acceptable pursuit. When the doctor tells her she will be responsible for shaping Arabella into a suitable countess, Gillian has serious reservations, but she needs this job, and agrees to do her best.
Arabella is a strange bird. She may be my favorite secondary character of all time. At times I felt sorry for her; in other scenes, I hated her. She was so uniquely drawn, I was fascinated. Arabella has only one passion and that is medicine. She spends every waking moment, unless forced by Gillian or her father to do otherwise, studying medicine, the methods of healing others. She’s happiest when treating someone for an illness or ailment. When her father asks Gillian to convince Arabella that marriage to the earl is a marvelous opportunity, Gillian is certain she won’t succeed. Arabella has no interest in marriage – and when I say no interest, she is not one of those fiercely independent, feisty heroines who stamps her foot to be heard, and proclaims she’ll never marry because she must save her family, her country, or whatever good and noble cause she’s taken up. No, Arabella just wants to be left alone, to study and learn all she can about medicine. Never mind that she’s a female and as such, will never be allowed to practice medicine on the general public. She’s given the inducement that she can treat all of the staff at Rosemoor after she marries the earl, but this is of no particular interest to Arabella. The necessity of becoming a wife in order to earn the privilege of treating people makes the offer unappealing. Being bedded and gotten with child is abhorrent to Arabella, who can’t abide being touched by anyone.
Still, she accepts the engagement because she knows she has no choice, and goes along to Rosemoor, but makes no effort at all to be cordial, kind, or remotely interesting. This is what fascinated me about her character. Arabella is not snobby, sullen, or petulant. She is truly disinterested in anyone outside of herself, feels no obligation to be friendly, kind, or carry on a conversation. Upon arrival at Rosemoor, she is all but silent and makes no effort whatsoever. Dr. Fenton places blame for Arabella’s awful deportment and behavior on Gillian, and she’s constantly worried about her position, quietly angry with Arabella for being so difficult, so into her own world, with no thought for anyone else.
Grant thinks Arabella is beautiful, but realizes very quickly, he may have been a little hasty. His instant attraction to his fiancé’s fetching companion, however, who speaks well, engages in conversations with him, and expresses a sincere interest in his scientific experiments, becomes something deeper as the weeks pass. There is guilt, envy, and a lot of sexual longing going on, along with Grant’s constant worry of a traitor in their midst, someone who may strike again, with him as the target.
As for Gillian, she knows there is no hope of any kind of relationship with Grant beyond friendship. He’s engaged to her employer’s daughter, who Gillian very humanly sees as a spoiled, selfish child who cares nothing about anyone but herself. She’s envious of Arabella, who will marry Grant, but have no interest in him at all, sexual or otherwise. Arabella is without compassion, without an ounce of warmth. Gillian has experienced passion – and liked it. A lot. There are no virginal blushes in this book. She sees Grant, is attracted to him, and as time passes, she comes to want him. But there are those pesky problems keeping them from acting on desire – he’s an engaged earl, and she’s a fallen woman.
The dialogue is smart, and oh, how I love smart dialogue. The descriptive passages are well done, not overdone, enough so that I had a very real sense of place. But the overriding best part of this book, and perhaps Ms. Ranneys’ writing in general (I can’t wait to find out!) are the characterizations. Grant isn’t the reclusive scientific type who wishes his responsibilities away. He’s a man who accepts who he is, what he was born to, and manages to fit his passion for science into his daily life. He is pragmatic, yet capable of joy. And great grief. Gillian is smart, level-headed and well aware her life as it is now is of her own making. Rather than bemoaning her loss of innocence and the resulting consequences, she faces up to what she did and how foolish she was, determined to face her future and live the best life she can, despite less than stellar circumstances. Arabella is magnificently drawn, a fascinating study in obsession. Other secondary characters were just as rich – Grant’s mother, who harbors her own secrets; Dr. Fenton, who isn’t precisely what he seems; Lorenzo, a friend of Grant’s who visits from Italy, a faux Lothario with seven children and a wife he worships – I adored this guy!
Buy this book. Read this book. If you enjoy well written historical romance, you’re certain to find The Scottish Companion an excellent read. Trust me – I have exquisite taste. (Hey, you in the back! Stop laughing!)
You may visit the incredible Ms. Ranney here, and you should definitely buy The Scottish Companion here, or here.
