Catherine Kullmann

Decision by list!

Refreshing Regency tale exploring the thoughts and feelings of three young women who are making their Presentation to the aging Queen Charlotte.
The three are fast friends, have supportive families, and enhance each other with their looks. So much so that the Ton have taken to calling them the ‘Three Graces.’
When younger they had made a list, their criteria for husbands. What to look for, how the gentleman treated them. In general they were looking to get behind the facile surface to a truer knowing. Very difficult! The list contained “not the obvious things like birth and wealth, but whether he was kind, a good listener, generous or mean-spirited, or a fortune-hunter. [The girls] said the artificiality of the Season [made] it difficult to assess a fellow’s character and to weed out those who might ignore or mistreat their wives.”
The Husband Criteria mainly follows Cynthia Glazebrook. She meets a man, Lord Rafe Marfield who might stand the test. Unfortunately, because her grandfather was a nabob, the patronesses of Almack’s have refused her a voucher. Her friends Chloe and Ann returned theirs, no explanation given.
That of course is not the end of the drama.
Cynthia is attracted to Rafe, heir to the Earl of Benton. Even so can she trust him enough to give up her independence?
Ann Overton is a very gifted musician. Her battles are around being able to play her music and not have it become second place to maintaining a home. She is delighted when she’s invited to join a musicians’ working group, but in the end that betrays her.
Chloe Loring has feelings for tutor Thomas Musgrave. Unfortunately his interests appear to be engaged elsewhere.
A charming tale of supportive friendship and young women taking as much control as they can in learning about potential partners.
Of course the ton learn of the ladies’ list and more than one lady enquires about it.
Enjoyable read if you can keep in mind the various moving parts.

A BokksGoSocial ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change… (altro)