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Lady Gallant by Suzanne Robinson
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Lady Gallant Suzanne Robinson Romance novel 1992 Rating: A |
Lady Gallant is a bit off the average romance novel path. It’s set in an era that’s hot right now - Tudor England - but was hardly so back in 1992 when it was written. The hero, Christian de Rivers earns his Alpha Jerk credentials the old-fashioned way, by mistreating the heroine often and excessively. He alternates between throwing out punches and literary allusion, and doesn’t hesitate to be cruel when it would be just as easy to be kind. However, if those caveats don’t put you off, there’s a meaty meal awaiting the romance reader who doesn’t mind picking a bone or two out of her teeth as she proceeds.
Eleanora “Nora” Becket is a waiting woman to Queen Mary in the latter, less stable part of her short reign. Nora is a quiet woman without influential connections. Her father believes her to be illegitimate and would like to marry her off as soon as possible, but Nora’s muted prettiness, unfashionable clothes, and quiet mien do not attract a bevy of suitors. She meets the famed Christian de Rivers, Viscount and Queen’s favorite by accident. She is held up by highwaymen while traveling and Christian reluctantly rescues her. Thrown into his magnetic and lofty company, Nora waffles and demures, refusing to fight or flirt or defend herself against his barbed comments. Kit is less than impressed, until he sees her come alive when defending those weaker than herself.
Christian has reason to respect those who defend children and animals. When he was a boy, he and his father were attacked and Christian was taken captive by Jack Midnight, the famous, ruthless highwayman. For years Midnight abused him and forced him into a life of corruption and crime. Then, just as suddenly, Christian was reunited with his beloved father. The damage to his psyche, however, could not be undone. When he meets Nora he can’t quite understand his attraction to her. She is not gregarious, vibrant, or larger than life. She doesn’t play court games and treats everyone around her with kindness and courtesy. He should be repelled by her “weakness,” but he can’t help admiring both her gentleness and her fierce defense of others. When Nora’s father puts her in danger with his schemes to marry her off, Christian reflexively steps in - and finds himself married to her in short order. But both Christian and Nora are keeping secrets, and Nora’s proves to be her downfall…
It is currently the fashion for authors to write heroines who are feisty and independent, proto-feminists who bristle at the first whiff of sexism, regardless of any period restraints, societal or otherwise. Nora is a different sort of heroine. She sees injustice around her, but she chooses to work within the system to try and remedy it. She maintains her role in society and does not try to overreach or protest loudly. I appreciate this sort of heroine and found Nora to be far more realistically drawn. Rather than sum up her characteristics, Robinson shows Nora’s philanthropy and gentle nature in any number of scenes which also serve to illustrate the Tudor period. She is physically affected by the violence of a bear baiting. She impulsively tries to help Christian when his religious allegiances are questioned in front of the queen. She relays information so that religious heretics can remain hidden, safe from torture and execution.
Christian is even more interesting character. Beautiful, brilliant, eloquent, athletic, he is nonetheless far from perfect. He does not interfere indiscriminately when he sees wrongdoing, as Nora does. He is hardly nurturing and does not suffer fools gladly. He frequently and impulsively lashes out in anger with words -and fists. He is like a feral child, outwardly normal, inwardly wild and dangerous. Though he clearly has leadership capability, he inwardly feels unworthy and soiled, and only asserts it because there is no one else to fill the vacuum. In the presence of his father, a kind man whom he deeply respects, he is physically submissive. And the reader can’t help but speculate if he will repeat this pattern with Nora. Of the two of them, she has far more self control.
Robinson’s prose here is very evocative of the period and is peppered with quotations from literary greats in various languages. She also illustrates via her plot the violence and uncertainty of this period when one day it was safe to be Protestant and the next it was a death sentence. Mary for all her faults is show as sympathetic, a woman in pain and distress who is devolving into hysteria slowly. Elizabeth makes a few appearances and is a stronger character. Various Catholic officials go about their plotting and death dealing, but they are not shown as devout, but rather as self-seeking politicians.
No review of Lady Gallant would be complete without mention of the deep groveling Nora manages to wring from Christian for the wrongs he does her over the course of the novel. Christian, taking it into his head that Nora has deceived and betrayed him, acts quickly and cruelly to shame and torment her. His behavior toward her is despicable, and many readers may be seriously put off by it. However, when he realizes his mistake and tries to make amends, he finds it difficult to win Nora’s affections back. For me it was worth the price of the book to see shy Nora assert herself and demand more from him than words and easy sentiment.
All in all Lady Gallant is a fantastic piece of romantic and historical fiction. It tells a love story and illustrates a complex period in history all at once. I’ve tried other Robinson titles several times since I finished this one and have never been able to find its equal amongst her backlist, but this one - this one is a triumph.
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