This is one of the best romances that I have ever read. It was recommended to me by a friend, and fortunately I was able to get a copy. I rank it with Georgette Heyer, not only for the characters, but for the humor, although Merrill's gets a little more farcical. Apparently sent in the Edwardian Era, it chronicles the adventures of Belle, a famous, beautiful actress in her late twenties who is losing her voice. At this juncture, Hugo Gore, the young Earl of Orsett, asks her to come to Orsett Park pretending to be his romantic interest, tactlessly explaining that his apparent liaison with an actress will shock his uncle into letting him marry his childhood sweetheart. Also on hand is an American heiress and her parents, hoping that she will become the Countess instead.

A great part of the humor comes from Belle's alternately rising and falling social status according to what the other characters suppose to be her relationship with the various Gores at Orsett Park (the Earl's residence) and Orsett Court (Uncle Piers Gore's residence.) Belle triumphs, and other couples are united, although a bit wistfully in one case.

The paperback edition was published in 1978, and a hardcopy large-type edition was published in 1980. Perhaps Kindle will pick it up like they did Red Adam's Lady. ( )