Catherine (Cousins of Pemberley #2) by Linda O'Byrne
Genre: Historical fiction, Regency romance
Read: 18th June 2023
Published: 7th March 2023
★★★★★ 5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
Many years have passed since the dramatic events of Pride and Prejudice.
In The Cousins of Pemberley series we follow a new generation of heroines - cousins with lives as different and interesting as those enjoyed by their mothers.
Catherine Collins, a very ordinary young woman - plain, quiet, often over-looked but possessing a reputation for having great common-sense. Or so her distant cousin Elizabeth Darcy believes and so recommends her as governess for little Matilda Courtney.
Catherine travels to Northumberland, full of good intentions to do her best and be a credit to the family.
But appearances and reputations can be deceptive - Robert and Martin Courtney will soon learn exactly what type of girl Elizabeth has sent them.
MY THOUGHTS:
I have to wonder where I was when these books came up for tour as they only came to my attention when I read "Miriam" which is book three in this delightful series. I would have loved to have toured for both "Cassandra" and this one CATHERINE but...better late than never! I do so love a Regency romance and, while these are technically in the new Victorian era, they do reflect that same easy style and temperance of a Regency read.
CATHERINE begins almost exactly where "Cassandra" left off as they are all in a cloud of wedding celebrations and its wake after the delayed nuptials of Dr Richard Courtney and Cassandra Bennet (formerly Wickham). The family travels from far and wide for the wedding with Catherine Collins arriving with her stepmother Kitty and half sister Harriet from Longbourn, the Bennet family estate passed on to Catherine's father the Reverand Collins after the death of Mr Bennet, much to Mrs Bennet's distress...though she remains in residence with her daughter Kitty and the Reverand Collins. Also arriving from the north is Richard's family from Courtney Castle - Sir Robert Courtney, the new heir to the estate since their father's passing earlier in the year, and their Aunt Honoria, their father's sister. And in a flash, the couple are married and making their home in Wyvern Lodge not far from Pemberley.
Catherine Collins is the plain unattractive daughter of Elizabeth Darcy's oldest friend, Charlotte Lucas. But after her death, her husband remarried Elizabeth's sister Kitty and produced a daughter of their own whom Catherine now finds herself in charge of. She dresses more as a governess in plain greys and browns rather than something more becoming. But since her stepmother has thrust the child in her direction at every turn, Catherine has little else to say or do in the matter. So when she is seen dancing in the gardens of Pemberley barefoot and carefree by the two remaining Courtney brothers - Sir Robert and Martin - it is easy to mistake her for a servant.
But Catherine dreams of more than just a life of servitude at her stepmother's behest, though she cares for her little sister at four she is most precocious. So when she is approached by her godmother Elizabeth Darcy with the request that she travel north as Sir Robert Courtney's guest to act as a governess to his six year old daughter Matilda who has remained mute since the sudden death of her mother a year or two before. But after a long and tiring journey from Derbyshire to Northumberland, she is shocked to recognise Sir Robert as one of the men who had seen her so carefree in the gardens of Pemberley! Just as he is as surprised to learn that the young woman he mistook for a servant girl is actually the distant cousin of the Darcys. Much to the amusement of little brother Martin, who is often at Courtney Castle when his cashflow runs low and he is in need of an injection of funds.
Upon arriving at Courtney Castle, Catherine falls into a routine with her young charge and finds that the girl is actually quite bright. The fact she has remained mute since her mother's tragic death is nothing short of a mystery since there is no medical reason for her to do so. And after spending time with Matilda she firmly believes that the little girl will find her voice once again when she chooses to.
Catherine's position as governess is only temporary until Sir Robert marries again and there seems to be an understanding that he will do so very soon to an old family friend, Miss Abigail Richmond, who can bring breeding and money to the union. And Abigail certainly expects Sir Robert to propose at any moment. But Abigail also harbours plans of her own...none of which include Matilda, Catherine or Courtney Castle.
Meanwhile, Catherine and Sir Robert have formed a strained friendship of sorts as they clash over Matilda on occasion. Catherine knows he loves his daughter but he doesn't really know her. Matilda adores her father, that much is clear. And while Catherine loves Matilda, she didn't expect to develop feelings for Sir Robert. But social differences divide them as Abigail is quick to point out. The woman is a patronising snob quick to put Catherine in her place and make disparaging remarks about her dress or appearance...or even a reference to her familiarity with hovels, since she must have come from one herself.
I grew to like Catherine who is somewhat free-spirited though duty constrains her. I did find her thoughts frustrating at times though I guess that's because as the reader we are also privy to Sir Robert's. Martin is a terrible flirt and he did inject some humour with his flirtatious innuendo, as did Honoria with her keen eye and knowledge. I was thrilled to see Bennetta make an appearance and do so hope there will be a story in which she can shine promimently. But Abigail. It goes without saying that she is the fly in the ointment. She is patronising, condescending and I just was dying to see Sir Robert put her in her place...but he was too gentlemanly to do so.
I thoroughly enjoyed CATHERINE, as I have done with all the Cousins of Pemberley series. I have already read book 3 "Miriam" so I will be moving onto book 4 "Jane" next, followed by "Merryn". And then...I will have to await which of the cousins come next!
A delightfully fun read as with all in the Cousins of Pemberley series, CATHERINE has the easy gentle pace that I love of this type of book. A must for Austen fans and those of "Pride of Prejudice".
MEET THE AUTHOR:
I have been writing all my life in the time I could spare from having a “proper job”, mostly for children under the name of Linda Blake, stories of ballet dancers, pony riding and talking animals! Not all in the same book!
But my love of romance, a great tendency to say “What if..?” and the endearing characters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice have now resulted in a series of books that will take the reader forward to the next generation of heroines.
I am retired, live in Kent and am a keen member of my local drama group. Directing and acting take up a lot of my time - I have been given the onerous task of writing the Christmas pantomimes - but I still need to cope with a large garden, doing daily battle with the heron who thinks my pond is his own breakfast buffet and keeping in touch with friends and family scattered all over the world.
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