Reading: Romantick Stratagems

The ninth volume in the published version of the Comfortable Courtesan series sees Clorinda continuing to resolve the difficulties of those around her; in this case, the particular targets are the wife and daughters of the Earl of N-, whose penny-pinching in relation to the household budget leaves his family shivering in front of inadequate fires, his daughters attending the events of the Season in made-over dresses from several years ago (not merely a matter of vanity in an age when making a good marriage, or not, would entirely determine the course of a woman's life), and his disabled wife confined to the house and isolated from society, and whose eldest daughter is unhappy with her father's plans to marry her to the Marquess of O-, who she has never met. Clorinda, of courae, addresses this in her usual capable manner, and finds a resolution for all of the family's problems, while continuing to participate in her usual round of philanthropic activities and to act as confidante and advisor to the rest of her circle. As always, this was a delightful and wonderfully soothing read; these days, the series is definitely high on my list of comfort reads.