In The Other Countess by Eve Edwards, Lady Eleanor unhappily obeys her half-crazed alchemist father’s wishes. His obsession with turning lead into gold leads them into destitution, and they are forced out of the house of the Earl of Dorset. Years later, Eleanor runs into Earl William of Dorset at court, and he, without recalling that he kicked her out, falls in love with her. Unfortunately, as luck (or unluck) would have it, William needs a rich wife to save his family own from destitution. Upon discovering Lady Eleanor's identity, he sets aside his love and looks for another, more fitting wife. Eleanor, in an unhappy financial situation, eventually leaves court altogether with her alchemist father.
While The Other Countess could have had a bit more substance, it was a quite enjoyable read. The characters, even those not as centrally involved as William and Eleanor, were made believable through dialogue. I found myself reading this book relatively quickly. It’s easy to be drawn into the story. I enjoyed the fact that Eleanor and William did not end up together within the first 20 pages. By drawing out the story, the author added needed suspense. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction or romance.
- Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
- Date of Publication: July 12, 2011
