Beguiled

by Susan Spencer Paul

Lady Lillian Walford had the Look of Perfection.
Yet a fateful flaw doomed her to a life of silence. And although Anthony Harbreas, the gallant Earl of Graydon, had showered her with his attention, Lillian knew she was fit to be no man's wife. So why had the much-sought-after earl asked her to be his true-bound bride?

Tricked by her brother into marriage with the lovely Lillian, Anthony was quick to realize his incredible luck. For he knew that beneath the surface of her quiet beauty, Lillian was a priceless jewel. And he was determined to convince his innocent wife of her true worth and their golden future....

Genres: Historical, Historical Romance, Romance, Regency, Disability, Historical Fiction, Fiction

296 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

This author also writes under the name Mary Spencer

When I was a senior in high school, everyone in my graduating class was asked to fill out a questionnaire supposing where we'd be in ten years' time, what we'd be doing and what our accomplishments would be. I put down that I would be a published author and have written the Great American Novel. I was joking, of course, but I really did want to be a writer. Unfortunately, it was ten years before I actually got the opportunity to put pen to paper, after the birth of my first daughter. I had given up my job as a secretary to be a stay-at-home-mom, and found the long hours of baby sleep time to be a big change from my former busy days. To pass the time and break my increasing addiction to the Home Shopping Network, I at last sat down and took a stab at pursuing that old high school dream. Sixteen years have passed since then and I've had the great joy of writing several romances and seeing them published. I may never get around to writing the Great American Novel, but it doesn't really matter. I'm writing books that I love and having the time of my life doing it, and that's an accomplishment that this former high school senior is perfectly content with.

As for the more specific information, I live in a great small town in the Los Angeles suburbs, am married to a wonderful guy, Paul, and have three gorgeous, brilliant (can you tell I'm just a tad bit biased?), fabulous daughters, two terribly spoiled (by me) dogs, and a pampered, long-suffering cat.

Reviews

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" Beguiled has been on my TBR list for a very long time. I'm quite glad I finally picked it up, because it turned out to be a great read. It's a sweet story of a young woman in Regency England who is all but mute. She's given up on ever marrying and having a normal life, but she still longs for just one season in London to experience what the city has to offer before settling into the rest of her life alone. She just didn't count on her older brother interfering or a handsome earl falling in love with her. Things did get a bit convoluted at times, making me wish that the characters were being a little more honest and forthright. The lack of this led to a lot of misunderstandings, an element which I typically don't care for, but I think I was able to mostly forgive because the story is deeply emotional and I understood why the characters weren't being more candid. Even though they might have saved themselves a lot of grief in the long-run, their hearts were always in the right place in the moment.

Lily is a heroine who is both sweet and spunky. After being poisoned by a distraught servant when she was very young, she suffered damaged vocal cords which make it extremely difficult for her to speak. She hates the sound of her own voice and generally chooses not to use it, leaving most to mistakenly assume that she's mute and sometimes deaf as well. She's proficient in sign language and also writes notes to communicate. Because of her affliction, Lily was largely ignored and many even believed her to be demon-possessed and amoral (apparently common misperceptions in that era about deaf and mute people). Luckily for her, her rebel older brother rather unexpectedly came into the title and became her guardian. He has always treated her like a precious jewel and got her the best help and teachers money could buy. Despite this, Lily feels invisible and knows that she'll not make a fit wife for any man, but she wants to experience a London season just once. Little does she know though that her doting brother has chosen a man he thinks will make a perfect match for her and has blackmailed him into showing her about town with the intention of also engineering circumstances to force a marriage between them. Of course, having a man dance attendance upon her, especially one as handsome as Anthony, makes her feel special in a way she never has. The only thing about Lily that could have been better is if she'd believed in Anthony's love for her a little sooner than the final pages of the book. If I had a man doing the things for me that he was doing for her, I'd have had a hard time not feeling his love for me, but I suppose given Lily's background and her lack of self-esteem, as well as the fact that Anthony was keeping a lot of secrets in an attempt to protect her, it made sense that she might have doubts, especially when she discovered the truth.

Anthony is a kind and honorable gentleman. With Lily's brother blackmailing him into courting her, it would have been easy for him to treat her badly or even use her to get revenge, but instead, he fell in love with her almost instantly. He's immediately taken with her ethereal beauty, and it doesn't matter to him in the least that she can't speak. In fact, the first time she actually speaks his name, he thinks her voice is beautiful. He also gets extremely angry with her brother for not telling him about her disability before hand, not because he was embarrassed to be seen with her, but because in his surprise, he very nearly humiliated her. Anthony's protectiveness of Lily started in that very moment and only grew each time he was around her. He just couldn't bear to see anyone cause her any sort of emotional pain and he almost hates himself for having to do it on occasion by keeping the truth of how their relationship started from her. I love how patient Anthony is while trying to decipher Lily's unique brand of sign language. In fact, he's utterly charmed right from the start by her animation while she's talking with her hands. Best of all, I adored that he saved every little note she wrote him and sometimes takes them out to look at them, remembering each moment with complete clarity. A deep and abiding love for Lily snuck up on Anthony when he least expected it. Despite their inauspicious beginning, she stole his heart until he couldn't imagine life without her.

In addition to Anthony and Lily's romance, we get three other secondary romances. Lily's brother, Aaron, has a reputation as a devil, which is evidenced in his high-handed approach to finding Lily a husband. I never doubted, however, that his heart was in the right place. He's been in love with Margaret, his brother's widow, ever since he came home to take over the title, but he's a great hulking man who's scarred inside and out. As a second son, he left home young and lived a rough life as a pirate until duty called. As such, he doesn't think she could ever love someone like him and that she deserves far better. He gets several of his own POV scenes as their romance develops. Lily's cousin, Isabel, and Anthony's best friend, Matthew, share a love/hate relationship that's constantly on-again, off-again. In the background their antics were pretty amusing, but if they'd been more in the foreground, they probably would have driven me batty with their sheer stubbornness. Last but not least, Lily's former tutor, Charles, and Frances, the woman Anthony probably would have married if Lily hadn't come along, make a match made in heaven too. So readers get four romances for the price of one, although the latter two were only seen through the eyes of the main hero and heroine.

Overall, Beguiled was a deeply emotional and romantic read that I very much enjoyed. If things had been a tad less convoluted, if Anthony and Aaron had been a little more forthcoming about their well-meaning but less than honest actions, and if Lily had had a little more faith in Anthony's love for her, it would have been a perfect read. As is, I still found it quite well-written and engaging. This was the first of Susan Spencer Paul's books I've read, but after such a pleasant reading experience, I'll definitely be checking out her backlist.

[Crista · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is NO doubt that this is a wonderful book, but how does a person rate a book when the main couple has the WORST and most BORING relationship of the 4 relationships that this book contains.

The other three relationships are intensely great. My favorite is the romance between Aunt Margaret and Aaron the Earl of Cardemore. Now they are what romance is all about. An unrequited, long denied love that is so intense and passionate that the heat between them is "felt" coming right off the pages. The scenes with them in the ballroom, and then in the Earl's bedroom are alone worth reading this book.

Lord Daltry and Isobel have a turbulant and conflict based relationship, but it's fun. I would've liked to see them get more time. I also like the characters of Anthony's ex-girlfriend Francis and Lily's tutor, but we are told of their romance instead of "experiencing" it.

I realize that a romance novel usually focuses on 1, maybe 2, but never 4 different romances. I applaud SSP's talent, that she attempts and succeeds at fitting it all in. The only problem is that the main couple paled in comparison to the other 3. Anthony and Lily had way to many misunderstandings, insecurities, stupid fights, and an unbelievable courtship to really buy into them as a strong and unforgettable couple.

My love for Aunt Margaret and the Earl give this 4 stars. To bad they didn't get their own book!

[Imaginereader]

I don't know what I could rate it, seeing the ending was not a complete end and left the question of what happen to Lily and her brother's relationship, including other's ending. It was very incomplete and I wish there was an overall final epilogue.

[Shabby Girl ~ aka Lady Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book turned out to be much better than I thought it would be. I must say though, that for me, it was the heroine and her plight that kept me glued to the pages. I actually read it quite quickly, I was very interested right to the end and in every single page.

I think the hero was a bit tame, I suppose, looking back there wasn't much in him to keep me interested. He was good looking, had a good title, was well-enough off money-wise, but had everything come to him easily. Such as it is for good looking people in books and in real life. No tortured past to make him interesting and apart from being good-looking, I couldn't really think why the heroine would fall in love with him. But I suppose if he was in real life why wouldn't you, but in a novel, he seemed a bit bland. Maybe I needed a book cover of some hunk to get me interest in him!

In any event, I had a bit of pain in my chest for most of the book reading about the way the heroine was treated - like she didn't exist, like she was some sort of idiot just because her vocal cords didn't work - and I couldn't help but want to jump into the book to be her friend. I really fell for her myself, I just loved her! I must admit, I don't think I've loved a heroine as much as this one in a really long time. She really jumped right out of the pages for me. She was such a sweetheart and didn't deserve the disrespect she received all through the book. I wanted to jump into the book and punch a bunch of people! I just loved the way her speech was written in the book, I felt like I could almost hear her voice.

The other romances in the book were quite good. I was a bit frustrated with the Isobel/Daltry romance, but couldn't get enough of the Margaret/Cardemore one. There definitely wasn't enough of that one!

All in all, this book was much better than I thought it would be. Loved the heroine and she alone was worth reading the book for.

[Etty Kurnianingsih · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sukaaaaaaaa banget!!! Ampe ngulang bacanya hehehe!!! Salah satu cerita favorit gw! Baru kali ini baca tokoh heroinenya adalah seorang wanita yang tidak bisa berbicara seperti orang normal, tunawicara yang rendah diri dan selalu memakai bahasa isyarat. Terharu saat membacanaya, situasi yang membuat Lily bersedih karena cibiran orang yang mengira dia tidak normal alias gangguan mental saat make bahasa isyarat maupun saat sang hero yang tega hati menjauhinya hanya karena tahu dia tunawicara!!! Motif Anthony yang gak tulus hanya karena diancam sama kakaknya Lily supaya mendekatinya awalnya malah jadi tulus beneran, bahkan rela belajar bahasa isyarat juga sama pakarnya saking ingin bisa berkomunikasi dengan lancar. Saat nyebelin adalah Lily yang bersusah payah belajar bicara dengan seorang guru yang kejam dan menghinanya karena ga tahan si Lily tetep aja ga bisa bicara dengan normal, ih pengen jejelin cabe deh tuh mulut! Teganya membuat seorang wanita ampe nangis gitu, untung ada Anthony yang segera belain!
Kesan gw:
CINTA SEJATI TIDAK HARUS MENUNTUT KESEMPURNAAN PADA DIRI MASING2

[Linda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthony Harbreas, Earl of Graydon, is blackmailed by Aaron, the Earl of Cardemore, to introduce his sister into society and make sure she has a Season that she will remember. When Anthony meets Lily he finds out she can’t speak, but is not deaf and can understand everything people are saying about her. As he spends time with her he becomes fascinated and eager to smooth her way. Her voice was damaged in childhood and she can speak in a low, faulty voice that is a terrible strain on her vocal chords and as such has learned sign language to communicate with her family and the servants at home. Society is very different and prejudiced. As we follow the ups and downs of this romance we are given a picture of how early 19th century people dealt with the deaf and mute. I really liked the concept and plot of this book, but for a book dealing with problems of communication it seemed the author put in several plot points that involved misunderstanding and separation.
These seemed more typical of the ‘big misunderstanding’ plot device common in some romances and not really effective here.

[Cherise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like another reader had mentioned I actually enjoy the other pairs' going ons than the main one. It just feels like the h is pretty immature and insecure. The H's actions speak louder than words and I just find it unbelivable that she couldn't tell how he felt, also weird that he didn't say anything about his feelings. The reason for his staying away is just stupid and his inaction made him weak; one would think he would want to do more with such a untenable situation than to wait and wait for nothing. I totally adore the aunt and brother relationship (though can't help being saddened by the fact that theirs will be condemned, didn't know it's against the law...thought there are books with this same theme though could be a different time.) The book did portray very well how people dealt with disabilities during the old days, and that lends the book an authentic feel.

[NTE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it - although the Deaf heroine is described on the back cover as knowing "she was fit to be no man's wife", it seemed a pretty realistic portrayal of how deafness was perceived in that time period (not just as a burden, but as proof of idiocy and/or moral weakness) and therefore felt more true. The hero, of course, has to be blackmailed into courting her, but there's a plot, at least... the story isn't all about this Girl Who Is Deaf, which is a nice change from some of the other crap I've been reading just lately. Liked it.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this historical immensely, it satisfied so many of my favourite tropes, how could I not like it?
My only criticism is that at times the romance between the MC's became quite lengthy and dull, but definitely picked up and made up for it with the ending.
It's the first Susan Spencer Paul book that I have read and certainly won't be the last.

[BookBubbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot going on, lol! Main characters were good, maybe even a bit boring. Their story dragged out a bit too much and was almost superficial. Lily very much reminded me of the old fashioned, hesitant Barbara Cartland heroines. Not my cup of tea. I finished the book because of the secondary couples. Cardemore and Margaret were the ones most interesting, they deserved their own book!

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this book, so much that I bought it 3 times. I read it, then found in used bookstore forgetting I had read it and bought it again :-)

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lillian Walford looked like an angel, but a childhood poisoning had left her almost mute. When she insists on a London season, her brother bribes Anthony Harbreas, Earl of Graydon into courting/marrying her. Tony falls in love with Lillian anyway and turns the tables on her brother. Lillian discovers the initial plot however and retreats to her childhood home. Anthony resolves the confound her fears and misconceptions though and does.

Interesting twist on deaf/muteness and sign language during the time period.

[Priscilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Que história bonitinha.

Lilian é uma mulher com impedimento de fala na Londres regencial - isso acorreta em todo tipo de problemas, de preconceito a agressões. Nada muito explicíto, pois a autora queria focar no romance com Anthony, um verdadeiro lorde.

O romance entre dois se dá através de bilhetes e carinho, há algumas cenas mais eróticas, mas a maioria permanece branda.

Recomendo.

[Marya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this one. Too much going on, some without enough explanation. The depiction of the heroine's speech was clumsily done, I thought. The brother's actions were rather ridiculous, or at least weren't sufficiently explained.

[NatalyaVqs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet tale, and all three main characters (the couple and her brother who is her father figure) were imperfect in their decision making, which made them real and endearing. Two thirds in, a bit of minutiae cropped in, slowing down the story significantly. Overall an enjoyable read.

[Jynt · Rating 3 out of 5]

For all that this story covered the couple's typical lifecycle- courtship, marriage, married life, I found the ending surprisingly abrupt. Enjoyable, nonetheless, though I would have loved to see more happy moments at the end after all that hand-wringing and collective angst.

[Luz T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the story of Lily and Anthony.

[Francesca Guidi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Neanche ho voluto leggere la fine... Non mi ha proprio catturata

[Lina Bezushko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the book and the characters in it. The way it progresses.
I also hoped that there would be a continuation of the story

[Elisa Vangelisti · Rating 1 out of 5]

la ragazza sordomuta fatta sposare per forza (almeno così pare al punto di lettura cui sono giunta) poteva essere interessante, ma la prosa di Susan è troppo piatta e incolore, per me.

[Rhapsody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written, but it just didn't hit the spot for me. Graydon, the hero, was a little too perfect and tame. He is currently the most sought after bachelor in the ton; a good title, very handsome, perfect manners, and rich (supposedly). Actually, all his debts have just been bought up by the devilish Earl of Cardemore, who has a job for him; Graydon is to escort the earl's younger sister Lily around London for her first season there and make sure she has a marvelous time, or the earl will ruin him. Graydon reluctantly agrees and cheers up a bit when he sees the stunningly beautiful Lily, only to learn that she is a mute. Despite this, they are able to communicate and he gradually falls in love with her, but high society doesn't have much liking for such disabilities and they have to overcome a lot of obstacles, not the least of which being that Graydon doesn't want Lily to know he was originally blackmailed to be with her and Lily can't quite believe that Graydon loves her.

Like I said, it was a good book, but didn't hit the spot. I like heroes to have a lot of depth. Graydon is pretty much what he appears to be in the beginning; a very likable gentleman. He doesn't have a tortured past or any real secrets, other than being blackmailed originally. As for Lily, it's frustrating to witness her plight and she's a sweet character whom you never resent or find annoying, but there was something lacking about her. I guess I felt that the author presented the story realistically but didn't milk it enough.

[Kristy Halseth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book for many many years. I don't know how many times I've read it now. Not every year, maybe not even every other year, but at least every third year. (I have a lot of books.) I just love this book and I can't even pinpoint just why. Perhaps it is because all the couples are dealt with and settled, one way or another, in one book. In some ways, I would have liked some parts to have been explored more in depth. But at the same time, those parts don't feel like huge holes as happens in some books. The writing style is a little more formal than much of what is currently being written. But I'm not sure if that is it either. I just really like this story and these characters and even though I've read this more times than I can remember, I still go back to it for a re-read ever few years. I just can't bear to pass this book on.

[Penny Hampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual storyline, interesting characters (not just the main protagonists, but the secondary ones also) Covered a topic I'd not come across before in this genre and interested me enough to want to undertake further research on attitudes to physical handicaps in this period. I look forward to reading more books from this author.

[Prac Agrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!!!
I loved the h and H.
H was a really decent guy , though there were some questionable stuff he did at times but it all comes down to him being in the particular situation and do what he feels is best.
My heart broke for the h, the times i have cried to see her struggle.A blessed relief for her to have her brother and H with her.
Secondary characters were good too.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book in a bargain bin one day and decided to take a chance on it. It was much better than I thought it would be. I remember hating the lead girl's family and loving the male lead, but not much beyond that.

[Usagi Tsukino · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was I supposed to like this... book? Please. There weren't a character I could like, except maybe for the heroine... a small bit.

Dato che non lo sopportavo l'ho soprannominato Lord Zerbinotto... =__= Tsk.

NOPE.

[Krita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice story. Well written and different for tackling the heroine's disability unflinchingly.
However after a certain point the story started to drag.
Overall not bad.

[Tracy's Place · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5