The mother-daughter writing team of Nicole Byrd apparently received their inspiration for Lady in Waiting from the Greek myth of Circe, who, as detailed in The Odyssey, drugged and transformed most men into swine, then ate them. The resemblance to that story is very superficial; the only real similarity I could see is that the heroine's name was Circe, and that she was attractive enough for three men to pursue her. The story also proceeds at a very leisurely pace. I ended up enjoying it for the most part, but some readers may find themselves bored.

Circe Hill has spent several years on the Continent studying art, but she is returning home to England for one season in order to appease her sister Psyche (the heroine of Byrd's last book, Dear Impostor.) Circe has no real intention of marrying; she's all too well aware that her outlook on life is unconventional, and she considers herself ill-suited for matrimony or life in the ton.

Circe's childhood friend David has been spying for his uncle and needs a pretext to continue doing so. For reasons that are not entirely clear, he convinces Circe to pretend they are courting. Circe has always liked David, and after a few encounters she realizes that she is very attracted to him as well. David shares her feelings, but he is determined to marry a woman who is very different from Circe - someone who is a model of propriety and decorum. His parents made his life miserable when he was a child because they fought bitterly and embarrassed him in public, and he wants to make sure his marriage is nothing like theirs.

Meanwhile, Circe has acquired some additional admirers. Sir John Templeton is a shy, earnest young man who notices Circe's deft hand with floral arrangements and invites her to speak to at a gathering of his horticulture club. Circe's chaperone, Sally, notices that Sir John is uneasy around women, and offers to help him become more confident. Circe is also pursued by Count von Friestadt, an Austrian well known for trifling with the emotions of innocent girls.

The plot also involves Circe's servant, Luciana, whom she met on her return trip to England. Luciana has secrets which may bring danger to Circe and her family. With all of this intrigue, you'd think this book would be fast-paced and packed with action. Instead, it's so slow that getting involved is at first difficult. There's a lot of repetitive conversation, and several mundane scenes that seem to serve no apparent purpose. The mystery/suspense element of the plot is somewhat obvious and not terribly exciting.

Fortunately, this is a book that grows on the reader, and about halfway through I felt more involved and interested in Circe and David's story. David is probably the weaker of the two; his initial resolve to deny his attraction to Circe borders on irritating. However, it's kind of fun to see him give in to his desires, and his interactions with his difficult mother make him a more sympathetic character.

Circe, however, is almost instantly likable. It's got to be tough to write unconventional heroines who have no particular interest in the proprieties. Too often they come across as either stupid hoydens or modern women who have forgotten that they live in the nineteenth century. Circe is utterly believable in her "differentness." She's spent years on the Continent and honestly doesn't care what others think about her. She's enduring the season because she knows it will make her sister happy, but she's quite sure that she would rather devote her life to art than marriage. When she discovers that she's falling in love with David, she still doesn't consider marriage to be a realistic possibility; she's sure that no man could tolerate her outspokenness or her devotion to her art.

Another enjoyable surprise is a sweet secondary romance between Circe's erstwhile admirer Sir John and her chaperone Sally. Sally is an attractive widow who has never seriously considered the possibility of remarriage. She intends to help John overcome his awkwardness so he can court Circe, but she ends up wanting him for herself. Both these secondary characters are well-drawn, and I would have loved to have seen twice as much of them.

On the whole, this is a book I'd marginally recommend, particularly for those who don't mind a more slowly-paced read. Those who stick with it for the long haul are rewarded with unique, endearing characters and a poignant romance.