Margaret “Maggie” Delamere makes a comfortable living as the popular playwright of the most successful burlettas (because the theatre doesn’t have an official licence, every line of all the plays has to be sung by the actors) at the Imperial theatre. In the past, she’s never had any problems getting new ideas or getting her plays finished on time. Now, with the Imperial’s board of directors and the audience clamouring for the sequel to her most popular play yet, Maggie is suffering from a terrible writer’s block. The board can’t wait too much longer for a new play, and unless Maggie can produce the sequel soon, they’re threatening to replace her with another writer. Maggie wouldn’t just lose her job, but have to leave the place she considers home and the people she considers her family.
Cameron Chalton, Viscount Marwood, is an unashamed libertine and rake, quite happy with the idea of his stuffy and proper younger brother’s offspring eventually inheriting the title. Marwood certainly has no intention of growing respectable and tying the knot. Of course, now that his good friend and former carousing buddy, the Earl of Ashford, has settled down into matrimony, Cameron’s father is more insistent than ever that Marwood also remember his duties. The constant partying isn’t as much fun without Ashford either.
Cameron’s true passion isn’t for wine or women, though, although it does involve song. Marwood loves theatre of all kinds, and he’s absolutely mad for Mrs. Delamere’s burlettas at the Imperial, spending part of nearly every evening in his private box watching the performances. When he discovers that Mrs. Delamere may be replaced by the board of directors, he vows to do anything he can to help her.
More here.
The two Eva Leighs you gave me are coming up next, so I shan’t read this, but I will return anon when I have made my way through them.
I just started the first one. Good to know this one is solid as well!