Love is in the air
“He Said Yes” by Patricia Waddell
“Hey Mimi, whatcha doing?” asked Sheridan, ambling along the edge of the pool where Mimi is lying in her hot pink rhinestone bikini upon a Budweiser float. “I’m trying to remember the dream I had last night. I am pretty sure it involved me entering a room with hanging body parts but I honestly can’t be sure” said Mimi, her face contorting into a frown. “Wow. So did not expect that answer” replied Sheri, backing away from the edge. “Anyway, Lola’s out getting us lunch and I just finished this new historical series and thought I’d share it with you because I know how much you like historical romances” continued Sheridan, eyeing Mimi warily as she twirls her locks around her index finger, still lost in thought.
“That’s true. Alright tell me the plot. Perhaps it’ll stimulate my memory and help me remember my dream” mused Mimi, attempting to sit upright on the float while holding on to her strawberry marg. “Well…um first up, you should know that there’s no murder mystery and - ” “But is there blood? Like lots of blood and gore and a serial killer on the loose?” interrupts Mimi, her eyes shining like diamonds and her face all aglow with excitement. “Sure Mi, sure” Sheridan responds, inconspiciously moving a deck chair between herself and Mimi. “Anyway,” continues Sheridan, “the story is incredibly sweet if a little slow at first. It’s a story of love at first sight between Marshall, the Marquis of Waltham and Evelynn Dennsworth, a shopgirl whom he meets while accompanying his sister to a fitting. Instantly attracted to Evelynn, Marshall is obsessed with her and how he may make her his mistress. Fate sorta intervenes shortly after, when Evelynn is accused of stealing some aristocrat’s brooch when the ugly item goes missing after Evelynn makes a passing obligatory comment on the same. Marshall immediately comes to Eve’s defense, and swears to her that he will rescue her from jail and help her prove her innocence.” Sheridan sighs gustily. “It was all very romantic. Very The Dashing Gentleman Saves The Day sorta vibe which was really nice.”
“So then does Evelynn get attacked in prison and have her limbs slashed off by the rabid prisoner with whom she shares her cell?” perked Mimi, signalling to Juan for a refill.
“Erm…no not really. Hey Juan, when does Lola get back? Huh. Fifteen minutes you say? Can you call her and ask her to hurry cos I’m really um..I’m starving. Yes. Starving. Call her. Now” ordered Sheridan, thinking that she really should have waited for Lola to discuss the book. “So…anyway. Marshall keeps his promise and bribes a judge to let Evelynn go and be put under his protective custody until the trial, and installs her in a lovely house which he rented for her in the meantime. Evelynn though overcome with gratitude towards Marshall, does not offer the use of her vajayjay in return for his immense generosity and as a result, readers get to see the full push/pull relationship between Evelynn and Marshall which though a bit slow paced, was very sweet, genuine and plausible. Marshall finally however gets his wish and beds Evelynn when the lady is overcome with emotion and just as he thought that he might declare his affections for her and take care of her as his mistress, Evelynn declares the little interlude a mistake she would not revisit and Marshall is heartbroken. So heartbroken, that he cries on his best friend’s shoulder and drinks himself into the ground. Though heartbroken, Marshall keeps his promise to Evelynn and finds himself unable to keep himself away from her and her impending trial and finds himself jealous of the young lawyer he had engaged to defend Eve”
“I’m confused Sheri. Where’s the dicing and slicing? Oh and while you were talking, I think I remember like dreaming I was in a cinema and the screen said “There Is Something Under Your Seat” and I reached under my seat and found a box with a severed arm in it! What do you think that means?” asked Mimi, clearly in need of psychiatric intervention.
“Huh. Well Mi, that’s really interesting and hey! I think I hear Juan calling. JUAAAAAAN!!! Oh hi, there you are. So did you call Lola? Huh. Stuck in traffic? Ok. I um…can you stay close to me I just need you to maybe just stand here. Like right here yes. No it’s ok I’m not intending to work on my tan today. Actually you know what Mi? I’m going to go cos I just remembered I left a cup of oil in the microwave” laughs Sheridan nervously.
“You can’t go! I want to know how the story ends, and also, you promised to help me with my dream!” Mimi wails in response, while paddling herself closer to the edge of the pool and towards Sheridan.
“Whoa there! You stay where…just…stay. Evelynn is found innocent of all charges and Marshall offers her a job as his stepmother’s companion and while in the countryside, Evelynn is overcome by her lust for Marshall (must be the fresh air) and strikes a deal with Marshall to be his lover for the duration of the summer. Though sad that Evelynn obviously doesn’t feel the same way about their relationship as he does, Marshall agrees because a) he’s a man; b) he therefore thinks with his penis; and c) is convinced that he and/or his penis will be able to convince her that being his mistress is a good plan. Marshall then begins this incredibly sweet courtship of Eve, arranging a midnight picnic on the beach for her, tromping through a raging storm to her cottage just to be with her, pulling her into his study and kissing her senseless etc, etc, etc. SIGH. Marshall was a nice change from the gun toting, bullets flying, bombs exploding, muscle bound men I’ve been reading lately. A nice change indeed.”
“So….” Mimi ventures, “no blood? no gore? You…wait you LIED TO ME??”
“Now now, “lied” is a very harsh word Mimi! I would never…ok wait, wait, don’t you want to hear about how Evelynn gets accused once again for stealing and then takes off without a word to Marshall her knight in shining snug breeches and then Marshall goes mad trying to find her for the next few months? Wait! No! Don’t come any closer! HEEELllLLLPPP!!!!….(*#$NJ,.sduwqiyllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll”
cutepolishgirl68 said,
November 13, 2008 @ 9:19 am
I really loved this book and have kept it on my faves shelf since 2003! But surprisingly, I don’t think I read any of the books in the series that came after it.
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
November 13, 2008 @ 9:32 am
I haven’t read a sweet, somewhat uncomplicated love story like “He Said Yes” in a long time and was well pleased at the refreshing change. I think the rest of Marshall’s crew (the Gentlemen’s Club) are interesting though. Perhaps when I’ve finally able to make a dent in my TBR pile I’ll go hunting for the rest. I think my TBR pile at the moment is insane. INSANE.
Lauren said,
November 13, 2008 @ 9:38 am
He crys on his best friend’s shoulders? Is he still an alpha, cause that’s the most beta thing I can think of.
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
November 13, 2008 @ 9:45 am
I think and assume he cries manly tears. Manlily. But really, Marshall is an incredible softie cos this is the guy right, who tests/blows Eve’s soup before spoon feeding her so that her lips and tongue don’t get burned by the hot soup. AWW!
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
November 14, 2008 @ 8:32 am
[Spambots ate your comment Alice I'm sorry - I've reposted it back below]
ALICE: Oh, an uncomplicated, sweet love story. Oh, I really need this, I’m adding it to my list immediately. Thanks.
- I hope you enjoy the book Alice! It’s a refreshing change I tell ya!
Lady L said,
November 16, 2008 @ 2:29 am
I wanna read it I looooooooooooove sweet stories!!!!!!!!!!!!
Danke girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
November 17, 2008 @ 11:03 am
You’re welcome Lady L! Tell me what you think of the story!
Sheridan Sakura Carlotta said,
November 18, 2008 @ 5:53 pm
[Phantom Inkheart we apologise. Sincerely. We're having loads of problems with our spam fillter and your comment was accidentally zapped! Thousand apologies. We re-post your comment below]:
Phantom Inkheart: This sounds too sweet to pass up, definitely going on my TBR list.