A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh – a Review

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Description:
Reginald Mason is wealthy, refined, and, by all accounts, a gentleman. However, he is not a gentleman by title, a factor that pains him and his father within the Regency society that upholds station over all else. That is, until an opportunity for social advancement arises, namely, Lady Annabelle Ashton. Daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, a neighbor and enemy of the Mason family, Annabelle finds herself disgraced by a scandal, one that has left her branded as damaged goods. Besmirched by shame, the earl is only too happy to marry Annabelle off to anyone willing to have her.

Though Reginald Mason, Senior, wishes to use Annabelle to propel his family up the social ladder, his son does not wish to marry her, preferring instead to live the wild, single life he is accustomed to. With this, Reginald Senior serves his son an ultimatum: marry Annabelle, or make do without family funds. Having no choice, Reginald consents, and enters into a hostile engagement in which the prospective bride and groom are openly antagonistic, each one resenting the other for their current state of affairs while their respective fathers revel in their suffering.

So begins an intoxicating tale rife with dark secrets, deception, and the trials of love—a story in which very little is as it seems.

Review:

A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh was a sweet historical standalone novel.  Reginald Mason is wealthy, refined, and, by all accounts, a gentleman. He is the son of a wealthy coal merchant, with his father not considered to be part of the regency society. Reginald has made friends in the society, using money and gambling for his fun.  Mr. Mason is not thrilled with Reginald’s constant playboy fun, and he is determined for Reginald to get married and have children. The Masons and the Ashtons have been neighbors for 20 years, but do not speak or interact in any way.

Annabelle is the daughter of nobility, well known for her incredible beauty, but after being caught running away with a carriage man, in a compromising position with all of her beaux having withdrawn their proposals, leaving her in a disgrace with no dowry available.    Upon hearing about Havercroft’s daughter’s disgrace, Mr. Mason goes to Lord Havercroft to offer a solution; he will marry his son to Annabelle, with a sizable dowry and redemption from her fall from grace.

There are a number of flashbacks, when Reggie and Anna would occasionally meet by the lake between the two homes.  It started when Anna was around 8, and the banter between them even at a young age was cute. As they get older and years pass, they would accidently see each other again; with both talking or bickering about their lives. I got a kick out of their distant entertaining friendship, that no one knew about.  I did like both mothers, who like each other, but the fathers were never willing to talk, even though they wanted Reggie and Anna to marry.   Both Reggie and Anna consent to the marriage, even if they are somewhat antagonistic to each other.  As the wedding approaching, I really did care about both of them, as they slowly learned to accept the marriage. 

A Matter of Class was a very good historical story, with a wonderful couple, even though the families were distant to each other.  Reggie and Anna were great, and after the wedding, some secrets are revealed; I loved the ending.  A Matter of Class was very well written by Mary Balogh.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher