Title:
The Midnight
Marriage
Author:
Lucinda Brant
Published By:
New Concepts
Publishing
ISBN:
1-58608-395-3
Release Date:
March 2004
Format:
Electronic
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The Midnight Marriage
In the middle of the eighteenth century in England twelve-year-old Deborah and sixteen-year-old Julian are married in the middle of the night. This arranged marriage is not at all unusual for this time as the aristocracy is trying to make sure their blue blood lines are not tainted by someone of a lower social class.
Deborah and Julian do not see each other again until several years later. They meet by chance in the woods, not knowing whom the other is, and fall in love.
Julian remembers the midnight marriage all those years ago and only came back to England to give his father, the Duke of Roxton, a grandson. He does not want to be a married man, but wants to go back to France and enjoy his freedom. Deborah on the other hand does not remember being married and has grown up to be a woman with her own mind, not caring so much about names or titles. When Julian discovers that Deborah is the girl he married, he is happy, though he still keeps Deb in the dark about who he really is.
Deborah and Julian spend several weeks together and are very much in love. Then certain gossip about Julian's past and a pending lawsuit in France put some doubts about his true feelings for her in Deb's mind. These doubts get even stronger when she finds out that Julian lied about his identity. They both have some growing up to do if they want to make their marriage work.
What I like about this book is that even in the eighteenth century when women practically had no rights and were thought of as simpleminded and too romantic, there were still some who were not afraid to think for themselves or to voice their own opinions. Deborah certainly developed into such a woman. This is of course the main reason Julian falls in love with her. You think of these times, when marriages were mostly arranged, how sad and desperate for love the women and men must have been. This story is showing the reader that some were lucky and did marry for love. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It is fun to read and gives the reader a glimpse into times long past.
Reviewed by: Sabine
