Having heard bad things about Justin from his sister, the Lamarrs are reluctant to go, but begrudgingly accept his invitation for Maria’s sake. Those friends happen to be none other than Bertrand Lamarr and his sister Estelle, the nymph Justin and his dog had encountered frolicking in the woods. Seeing her distress and hoping to ease it, Justin rides over to visit Maria’s closest friends and invites them to Everleigh for a house party he’s planning.

As a result, she does not want to leave her home, and the fact that her surrogate guardian/companion, who has been with her for many years, is unable to make the journey makes the situation even more wretched. Maria had once loved her brother dearly but the odd events surrounding his banishment have left her believing the worst about him.

He will need to see her launched into society – something her mother had neglected to do – and hopefully quickly married off, absolving him of all further responsibilities. He is reluctantly travelling to the small country estate where she has been spending her mourning period to bring her back to the family seat at Everleigh Park. Now she has died, leaving him responsible for his half-sister Maria, a young woman he has not seen or communicated with for years. As a young man, his stepmother had caused his banishment from home and family. Justin Wiley, Earl of Brandon, is in a foul mood. His owner is little better, a massive man on a massive horse who calls his dog to heel and politely tips his head in greeting but makes no effort to acknowledge Estelle in any other way or check how she is after being responsible for giving her such a terrible fright. That’s when it happens a massive growling, barking beast who looks like he could swallow her in one bite bounds out of nowhere and frightens her half to death.

Lady Estelle Lamarr has just finished an extended visit with family members and is enjoying the peace and solitude of an unseasonably hot country day by being exceedingly unladylike and cooling her stockingless, shoeless feet in the river which runs near her estate. While you don’t have to have read those other works to enjoy this one, purists may wish to tackle the series in order. Characters from the previous volumes are spoken of and a few make appearances in this tale, especially the hero and heroine of Someone to Care. Someone Perfect is the ninth novel in Ms.

Mary balogh someone perfect