The Belchamber Scandal

by Frances Murray

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312073941
• ISBN13: 9780312073947
• Release Date: January 1985
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 223 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Nineteenth century adventures in governessing.

Interesting historical romance of a young woman making her way in the world. Our heroine, Amelia, is having a very bad year. Her embezzling, debt ridden father is a suicide. She has honorably released her absent fiance from their engagement. She is employed as governess to the children of the Hoggetts, the ultimate "Trade" family from hell. What else could go wrong? Don't ask. Mr Hoggett is travelling in support of his business interests. The Hoggett's lascivious tutor is interrupted when attacking Amelia, by his jealous paramour, the second Mrs Hoggett. Amelia is fired. She finds scandalous employment as a housekeeper to a maritally separated, not quite bachelor, artist. Meanwhile, Mrs Hoggett makes a false accusation that Amelia has stolen the household fund. Amelia is arrested and transported to jail to await trial. How the Artist/Hero finds, rescues and avenges our Heroine makes for a fast paced, suspenseful story, and an accurate portrayal of the Victorian court system. Good charaterizations, frightening plot twists and a solid romance adds to the entertainment. Recommended.

romantic novel of Victorian England

"When family disaster overwhelmed Amelia Belchamber and obliged her to make a new life for herself as a governess in the north of England, she was only doing what countless gentlewomen in her desperate position had done before. But Amelia had not counted on a family quite as trying as the Hoggetts. Amelia's troubles begin when Mr. Hoggett, a manufacturer of cottons and canvases, leaves her alone to cope with no less than eight wayward offspring, unsupported in any way by the weak and foolish Mrs. Hoggett. To make matters worse, she becomes the amorous object of the odious tutor, Mr. Bethune. And yet the final blow comes when Amelia finds herself the innocent victim of a total miscarriage of justice. But hope is not dead, for -- in the nick of time -- an unorthodox knight in somewhat less than shining armor has learned of Amelia's predicament and girded himself to ride to her rescue."