Like The Reluctant Baronet, this Jane Gillespie book focuses on Jane Austen's Mansfield Park in something of a roundabout sequel. I had already experienced the author's gently paced, roundabout way of storytelling that has a vintage feel in it's style and story.
In a distant village on the moors, the widowed vicar has six daughter. One might think he would be committed to seeing them marry and, even better, marry well. In truth, the Stockwell sisters find their own way into matrimony and do land well for the most part. That is, all, but the second oldest, Sophia, and the very youngest, Lucinda, just emerging from the school room. Without planning on it, Sophia was the only sister who drew no gentleman's offer so became the daughter who stayed at home to look after her vague, scholarly parent and the vicarage. She is neither vivacious and sparkling nor is she particularly skilled and efficient, but she does her best without much help or appreciation. She is unaware that her father's curate, a man of sense and very moderate means has silently appreciated her all along.
The village and neighborhood is remote and not the place much happens, but slowly the neighborhood is enlarged, first by a pair of widows- an aunt and her niece- who stir things up. Sophia must watch Lucinda start to idolize and then mimic the young Mrs. Rushton who makes it plain she is bored by all and feels she is above their little village community. While Lucie is taken as a companion by the lady who sees a doting young girl as better than nothing, Sophia is stuck getting unwanted advice from the older Mrs. Norris. Occasionally, those in the village wonder about the history of the two ladies who seem connected to wealth and high society back where they came from, but Sophia can only wish them elsewhere when another new person in the form of the new estate owner arrives to look over his inheritance.
Ladysmead takes a long time establishing the setting, the characters, and the situation and then seems to meander for more than half the book. It is only in the latter half that the story really takes off and the main players start acting in an interesting manner.
That said, it is a shorter novel so no hardship to wait for it to kick into gear. I struggled mostly that I hadn't established early a close liking for any of the characters at first though I did end up highly respecting and loving the curate Mr. Williams and feel sorry for Sophia and hoped she stopped being a doormat for everyone. She is a character that things happen to rather than one with her own agency. She does eventually show a little spirit and had her eyes opened about her own happiness (those who know MP are aware of how Mrs. Norris could drive even the most timid people to resolution).
The Mansfield Park connection was a side story though one does get to see where Maria Rushworth nee Bertram and her obnoxious Aunt Norris landed and learn if the previous events changed them at all. I'll leave that part a little mystery.
All in all, it was pleasant and loved the vintage feel. Those who like stories that are more a soft-touch and feel like the classic styles of writing would enjoy this one.
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