I had a wonderful time reading Widow in Scarlet. The interaction between Lucy and Nicholas was marvelous. They discuss, they plan, they listen to each other. Even so, the plot requires too much suspension of belief for the time period to totally succeed; there’s a definite Cinderella air to the plot that is at times hard to swallow.

Lucy Contrain’s marriage did not work out as she had hoped. After her husband Stanley’s sudden death, she realizes she knew him even less than earlier believed. His debts mounting, she’s lost many of her belongings and is in danger of losing her only security – her home. She has little to be happy for save a friendship with an older widow who sponsors Lucy and gives her some gowns when her mourning is over and retention of her young servant Violet, even though she’s unable to pay the girl’s wages. Lucy’s last remaining hope is her horrid relative Wilhemina, who treated Lucy’s widowed mother little better than a servant when they resided with her. Lucy’s marriage to Stanley was in large part to free her and her mother from Wilhemina. When Lucy approaches her for help, she realizes Wilhemina has not changed and she cannot bring herself to indenture herself for the rest of her life to the horrid woman. Lucy is truly on the brink of homelessness and despair.

Nicholas Ramsey, Viscount Richmond (AKA her knight in shining armor), appears on the scene none too soon. Nicholas has been on a mission for the king to obtain a ruby know as the Scarlet Widow, but on the eve of deliverance to the king, his courier/friend was killed and the ruby disappeared. A year later Nicholas is still tracking down the ruby. He believes Lucy’s husband Stanley was somehow involved in the theft. He meets Lucy just as more thugs have arrived to take her belongings. He rescues her belongings and her person but she believes she will never see him again.

Nicholas makes it his business to cross paths with Lucy. He doesn’t withhold the truth from her, telling her immediately he believes Stanley was involved in the theft. Lucy is disbelieving, but desperately needs the reward for the missing ruby. Nicholas has no need of the reward, but agrees to split it with Lucy for her help in tracking Stanley’s last days.

This story shines in the relationship between Nicholas and Lucy. They are truly partners, working together to solve the mystery. They discuss plans of actions, and handle themselves admirably in the difficulties they face finding the ruby. Lucy uses her brain and listens to Nicholas when faced with danger, unlike some many of the heroines in these type of stories. Lucy is of a lower class than Nicholas and she is terribly concerned over her precarious financial situation. Nicholas plays the white knight role, sending her food and clothing, and later providing a place for her to stay.

This is where the story shifted into unreality for me. A widow who receives expensive clothing and presents from a man, and then moves into his home, might as well wear a placard stating “mistress.” It’s difficult to see this as acceptable behavior in 1816. Even if she is a widow (maybe precisely if she is a widow), there are still moral standards of the age in place.

Nicholas also has a heart-wrenching tale of woe that comes to the forefront just as he and Lucy are building a strong relationship. Since his behavior threw a wrench into their communication and partnership at that point, it ruined the flow of the story for me.

However, even with the problems I had with Widow in Scarlet, it’s one of the better Regency-era romance novels I’ve read this year. Nicole Byrd is a mother/daughter team with a few books on their backlist, and I plan on picking up at least one more for my own pleasure.