The month of Febraury seemed like a good time to read a romance. So I selected one with good recommendations, A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh. This book is more like a short story or novella, so there's not much detail here.
The lovely Lady Annabelle Ashton disgraces her aristocratic, but financially diminished family, when she leaves the community ball without a proper chaperon. She is, however, accompanied by her father's dashing new coachman. This unladylike conduct will surely ruin her chances of marriage to a wealthy, but unattractive suitor arranged by her father the Earl of Havercroft. The Earl hopes this marriage will help restore his financial standing. Lady Annebelle returns home in disgrace and is locked in her room with only the Bible to read. The Earl can see only one possible solution to this dilemma--an arranged marriage to Reginald Mason the highly fanciful son of a wealthy, but uncouth coal mining baron. Reginald's father is delighted with this arrangement and the opportunity to finally be accepted by the local aristocracy. The future bride and groom are appalled by this plan, but reluctantly accept this as their fate. Will they ever be happy? It doesn't take long to find out.
Ms. Balogh is highly regarded as an author of Regency Romances. This is a light, breezy read with some witty repartee, and a clever ending.