The Phantom Lover
The
Phantom Lover by Elizabeth Mansfield contains no real ghosts as the phantom
in question is undeniably mortal.
Helen “Nell” Belden has always rebelled against convention but she has finally overstepped the mark. By refusing to marry a man she does not love she finds herself living in exile on a Cornish estate and coming face to face with a spirit who does not want her there.
Banished by Lady Sybil and Lord Charles Thorne Nell’s only companion in her exile is Lady Amelia, their elderly aunt. The welcome she gets at Thorndene is cool and she soon finds her coachman chased off by the mere tales of a ghostly presence. But she and Amelia are made of sterner stuff and decide to stick it out.
Captain Henry “Harry” Thorne was believed dead in a war on a continent. But very much alive he had returned to his home at Thorndene and hidden away from all of society, including his fiancée. The reason for his hiding was the loss of a limb in the war and he believed that it was for the best that they believed him dead. In the meantime he intended to live his life in peace and solitude on the Thorndene estate with only a minimal staff. He was not prepared and had no intention of welcoming his unwanted guests.
Given the idea by the housekeeper’s son Jemmy, Harry decided to become Harry D’Espry, an intimidating ghost with the sole mission of seeing off unwanted guests.
Harry’s Great Aunt Amelia quickly vacated the haunted chamber but remained in the house with Nell who took up residence in the haunted room.
But Harry found it much more difficult to scare off the rebellious Nell and slowly they formed a tentative friendship.
Nell did not believe in ghosts and plotted traps to catch her ghost but Harry’s planning was far superior and she found that trapping her ghost was not as easy as she had thought.
Eventually though she found Harry and tried to persuade him to return and face London and his fiancée who had the prior claim on his affections. But Harry was not so sure that he would be welcomed in society and resolved to hide away on his estate leaving Nell to travel to London alone, leaving him forever to his misery.
But he cannot stay away for long and makes his way to London where both his fiancée and Nell await him.
The Phantom Lover is a sometimes touching and sometimes amusing tale of romance from the best selling Regency author Elizabeth Mansfield. It is the first novel of hers that I have read and I am sure that it will not be the last.
With lively characters and the expert handling
of a tender subject such as disability caused by losing a limb it is easy
to see why Ms Mansfield’s novels are best-sellers.
RATING : 
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Also by Elizabeth Mansfield: Many Many Regency novels too numerous to list so check out her website.
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