In the regency, Snowbound with the Baronet, by Deborah Hale, Lady Cassandra Whitney and her friend, Mrs. Davis, are travelling by public stagecoach during a snowstorm to Noughtly Hall, home of the Viscountess of Moresly, who is Cassandra's aunt. Even though Cassandra is the daughter of a duke, her father's death has left his widow, Cassandra's step-mother, and his four daughters dependent upon the graces of his heir, Lord Highworth. Cassandra has taken matters into her own hands and makes an agreement with Aunt Augusta, the viscountess, that she will become the viscountess' companion, in exchange for a Season for her youngest sister, Evelina, and for a housekeeper's position for Mrs. Davis.
On their travels, they come across a carriage which has thrown a wheel, and are forced to take on the passengers from the carriage. These passengers include Sir Brandon Calvert, his cousin, Imogene, and their accompanying staff. The ride becomes quite awkward for Lady Cassandra and Sir Brandon, because they share a past. Four years ago, he had proposed marriage to her, but she refused him in the belief that her refusal would protect him. He believes that she played him for a fool, because she had given him the false hope of being accepted. He can forgive her for refusing him because he could understand their differences in station (he is the aforementioned baronet in the title of the book), but not for the way that she toyed with his feelings into making him believe that he had a chance to win her.
Because of the increasing severity of the snowstorm, the roads are no longer passable. The travelers are forced to take refuge at the farm belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Martin, who extend their hospitality to virtual strangers. Being forced to spend time with each other in such close quarters causes Cassandra and Brandon to realize that they still have unresolved feelings for each other; however, Brandon is reluctant to put his heart out there again after getting burned by Cassandra once before, and Cassandra is too proud to reveal to Brandon the real reasons for her refusal in the past. Brandon also has secrets of his own which he is too proud to reveal, and even though he becomes increasingly aware that he wishes to rekindle his relationship with Cassandra, his own past warps his ability to trust Cassandra and take a chance on a future with her. Cassandra, for her part, still must wrestle with her pride and concern for her reputation instead of risking humiliation which could possibly help her regain a future with Brandon.
As mentioned above, the issue of pride appears many times in this story. It is because of pride and a drive for independence from the new duke that propels Cassandra to become her aunt's companion. It is hinted by Viola, Cassandra's oldest sister, that pride led Cassandra to refuse marriage to Brandon the first time. Cassandra finally acknowledges the truth of this later on in the story, and although she humbles herself enough to admit the reasons for her refusal to Brandon, her pride rears up its ugly head again when she refuses to reveal the reason why she is travelling to her aunt's residence. She does not wish to be thought of as a gold digger, especially after she discovers the nature of Brandon's secrets. This leaves Brandon to imagine the worst of circumstances that might require her to travel away from the safety of her own immediate family; he thinks that she might be in an Interesting Condition (i.e. with child).
I thought that the plot and central conflict for this novel were well planned out. I could appreciate the complex reasons why the characters were too proud and afraid to reveal embarrassing and shameful secrets about their own families. However, as a reader, because I was privy to what the hero and heroine were thinking, I felt like giving them a couple of good shakes to get over their pride if they wanted the other person's love.
Also, I appreciated that this novel was clean; only kisses were present. I thought that the description of the first kiss that Brandon gave Cassandra in this book was satisfying to read. I would classify this novel as secular, although there is a short prayer made to the Lord at the Twelfth Night meal.
Deborah Hale has previously written other regencies for the Love Inspired Historical line, which includes the Glass Slipper Brides, a series about a group of childhood school friends who all eventually became governesses. Snowbound with the Baronet is the first in a series about the Whitney Family. There will be future stories about the rest of the females in the Whitney family, including Cassandra's three sisters and step-mother.
