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The Ellsworth Assortment #6
A Capital Arrangement
She’s a reluctant tourist. His future does not allow for detours. Will they find each other in the terra incognita of love?
England, 1814. Coaxed by family members to the seaside, Beatrice Ellsworth nearly loses her life in a bathing-machine mishap, only to be rescued by a quick-thinking young man. The grateful Ellsworths embrace him, and he soon steals Beatrice’s heart, despite him being engaged to another. If these are the consequences of Beatrice’s first pleasure trip, will she ever be persuaded to make another?
Penniless John Eddiston was apprenticed in his adolescence to a rising engineer. Years later, when the successful man lay dying, he entrusted his orphaned daughter and her inheritance to John, encouraging them to marry when she was older. What else could John do for this man who was more than a father to him? He agreed to it all, hoping love would come later. By the time he met Beatrice Ellsworth he knew better, but by then he could no more alter his path than he could the Grand Junction Canal.
When the two meet again in London, Beatrice dutifully tries to forget him. But knowing she is the only one he can love, John struggles to find an honorable escape from his heartbreaking arrangement.
♥ A Capital Arrangement is the sixth book in the clean Regency romance series The Ellsworth Assortment. The books can be read as standalones or in order. ♥
England, 1814. Coaxed by family members to the seaside, Beatrice Ellsworth nearly loses her life in a bathing-machine mishap, only to be rescued by a quick-thinking young man. The grateful Ellsworths embrace him, and he soon steals Beatrice’s heart, despite him being engaged to another. If these are the consequences of Beatrice’s first pleasure trip, will she ever be persuaded to make another?
Penniless John Eddiston was apprenticed in his adolescence to a rising engineer. Years later, when the successful man lay dying, he entrusted his orphaned daughter and her inheritance to John, encouraging them to marry when she was older. What else could John do for this man who was more than a father to him? He agreed to it all, hoping love would come later. By the time he met Beatrice Ellsworth he knew better, but by then he could no more alter his path than he could the Grand Junction Canal.
When the two meet again in London, Beatrice dutifully tries to forget him. But knowing she is the only one he can love, John struggles to find an honorable escape from his heartbreaking arrangement.
♥ A Capital Arrangement is the sixth book in the clean Regency romance series The Ellsworth Assortment. The books can be read as standalones or in order. ♥
437 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2024
226 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Christina Dudley
28 books265 followersChristina Hwang Dudley is the author of clean historical and contemporary romance.
Her historical romances include the Hapgoods of Bramleigh and Ellsworth Assortment series of Regency romances, including THE NATURALIST and TEMPTED BY FOLLY.
In contemporary romance, her forthcoming PRIDE AND PRESTON LIN (Third State Books, 2024) riffs on Austen, but this time the story is set in the San Francisco Bay Area, with Asian American protagonists who hail from different ends of the economic spectrum.
Her historical romances include the Hapgoods of Bramleigh and Ellsworth Assortment series of Regency romances, including THE NATURALIST and TEMPTED BY FOLLY.
In contemporary romance, her forthcoming PRIDE AND PRESTON LIN (Third State Books, 2024) riffs on Austen, but this time the story is set in the San Francisco Bay Area, with Asian American protagonists who hail from different ends of the economic spectrum.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 16, 2024
Ok, nice enough, but boring, it takes more than half of the book for the story to get somewhat engaging, I didn't find the main characters very interesting and I didn’t feel chemistry between them.
Overwhole, a series I enjoyed a lot and will miss.
Final ranking:
1. The Belle of Winchester
2. Miranda at Heart
3. Tempted by Folly and Minta in Spite of Herself
4. A Scholarly Pursuit
5. A Capital Arrangement
Overwhole, a series I enjoyed a lot and will miss.
Final ranking:
1. The Belle of Winchester
2. Miranda at Heart
3. Tempted by Folly and Minta in Spite of Herself
4. A Scholarly Pursuit
5. A Capital Arrangement
December 21, 2025
I don’t want to part with the ellsworths yet ☹️
June 24, 2024
Dudley’s Best Yet!
An exceptional story in every way. Original plot, fresh settings, interesting characters, appealing and intriguing conflict. I loved it all. 5 stars. Don’t miss!
An exceptional story in every way. Original plot, fresh settings, interesting characters, appealing and intriguing conflict. I loved it all. 5 stars. Don’t miss!
July 17, 2024
Oh, the joy of a new Christina Dudley book! Sadly this is the last of the Ellsworth Assortment series, following the romantic adventures of a father who married four times and had the eponymous assortment of children. This features the youngest daughter, Beatrice, the sensitive one of the family, and is a charming wrap-up of the series.
Here’s the premise: Beatrice Ellsworth looks to be set for contented spinsterhood. She’s happy not venturing too far from home, helping her older siblings with their growing families and not finding a man to suit her from the limited selection around Winchester. Her family conspire to arrange a trip to the seaside for her, to unfashionable Bognor, in the hope that a change of scene will inspire a change of heart. Their plans succeed beyond their wildest dreams, for on a sea bathing expedition, an accident with the bathing machine leaves Beatrice trapped underwater. Happily, another bather comes to her rescue, and even more happily he turns out to be a handsome and personable young man. The Ellsworths immediately draw him into their sphere and stand back to allow love to develop.
Which it does, but there’s a teeny, tiny problem - John Clayton, the aforementioned personable young man is already engaged. He’s a canal engineer, and when his mentor in that career died two years before, he left John everything - his business, and his daughter and the fortune she’s inherited. All John has to do is to marry her. At the time, it seemed like a great idea. Now, meeting Beatrice and being instantly smitten, he sees the flaws in the arrangement. But John is an honourable man, so he tells the Ellsworths that he’s engaged, which is just as well, for his betrothed, Priscilla, arrives in Bognor on a surprise visit.
Beatrice accepts that John is not for her, but she doesn’t have the temperament to shake off her disappointment easily. To distract her from her woes, she’s shipped off to London with a family with a daughter of her own age, who’s been torn from the highly unsuitable arms of a groom, and is also to be distracted by London entertainments (and hopefully find a more suitable husband). Now, Marjorie is a real piece of work, and I’d bet that most of us know someone just like her. She’s either Beatrice’s very, very best friend or her mortal enemy, with no point in between. Everything that goes against Marjorie’s own wishes is Beatrice’s fault, and she’s completely and utterly selfish and irrational. And also very funny, it has to be said. And while she’s busily falling for another swain almost as unsuitable as the groom, Beatrice is struggling to overcome her feelings for John Clayton, who pops up everywhere (even at Almack’s, which I felt was a bit of a stretch, but never mind). He’s trying to drum up investors for his canal, while his betrothed is beginning to realise that he’s just as canal-obsessed as her father ever was.
The ending brought no surprises at all, but that’s not a criticism. It means that no unRegency-like rabbits were pulled out of hats to get John out of his betrothal. I did want to box his ears, mind you, at that long-drawn-out proposal. There comes a point when explanations can wait and the couple just need to fall into each other’s arms and enjoy a long, toe-tingling kiss. There was one surprise, though - Mr Rotherwood, who wandered onstage from the previous series, a delightful appearance (once I’d worked out who he was and why his story sounded so familiar!).
This is a quieter book than some of the earlier ones of the series, but that’s entirely in keeping with Beatrice’s quieter nature, so that’s not a criticism either. There’s a smattering of Americanisms but it’s so beautifully written in other ways and I was enjoying the book so much that I didn’t care. In some ways, the previous book, with its stronger emphasis on the glorious Ellsworth family, would have made a more resounding series finale (wouldn’t we all love to be part of a big, rumbustious, affectionate family like the Ellsworths?). Still, this was a wonderful read. A very worthy five stars and I commend the whole series to anyone looking for a literate, intelligent and witty read with a true grasp of the Regency.
Here’s the premise: Beatrice Ellsworth looks to be set for contented spinsterhood. She’s happy not venturing too far from home, helping her older siblings with their growing families and not finding a man to suit her from the limited selection around Winchester. Her family conspire to arrange a trip to the seaside for her, to unfashionable Bognor, in the hope that a change of scene will inspire a change of heart. Their plans succeed beyond their wildest dreams, for on a sea bathing expedition, an accident with the bathing machine leaves Beatrice trapped underwater. Happily, another bather comes to her rescue, and even more happily he turns out to be a handsome and personable young man. The Ellsworths immediately draw him into their sphere and stand back to allow love to develop.
Which it does, but there’s a teeny, tiny problem - John Clayton, the aforementioned personable young man is already engaged. He’s a canal engineer, and when his mentor in that career died two years before, he left John everything - his business, and his daughter and the fortune she’s inherited. All John has to do is to marry her. At the time, it seemed like a great idea. Now, meeting Beatrice and being instantly smitten, he sees the flaws in the arrangement. But John is an honourable man, so he tells the Ellsworths that he’s engaged, which is just as well, for his betrothed, Priscilla, arrives in Bognor on a surprise visit.
Beatrice accepts that John is not for her, but she doesn’t have the temperament to shake off her disappointment easily. To distract her from her woes, she’s shipped off to London with a family with a daughter of her own age, who’s been torn from the highly unsuitable arms of a groom, and is also to be distracted by London entertainments (and hopefully find a more suitable husband). Now, Marjorie is a real piece of work, and I’d bet that most of us know someone just like her. She’s either Beatrice’s very, very best friend or her mortal enemy, with no point in between. Everything that goes against Marjorie’s own wishes is Beatrice’s fault, and she’s completely and utterly selfish and irrational. And also very funny, it has to be said. And while she’s busily falling for another swain almost as unsuitable as the groom, Beatrice is struggling to overcome her feelings for John Clayton, who pops up everywhere (even at Almack’s, which I felt was a bit of a stretch, but never mind). He’s trying to drum up investors for his canal, while his betrothed is beginning to realise that he’s just as canal-obsessed as her father ever was.
The ending brought no surprises at all, but that’s not a criticism. It means that no unRegency-like rabbits were pulled out of hats to get John out of his betrothal. I did want to box his ears, mind you, at that long-drawn-out proposal. There comes a point when explanations can wait and the couple just need to fall into each other’s arms and enjoy a long, toe-tingling kiss. There was one surprise, though - Mr Rotherwood, who wandered onstage from the previous series, a delightful appearance (once I’d worked out who he was and why his story sounded so familiar!).
This is a quieter book than some of the earlier ones of the series, but that’s entirely in keeping with Beatrice’s quieter nature, so that’s not a criticism either. There’s a smattering of Americanisms but it’s so beautifully written in other ways and I was enjoying the book so much that I didn’t care. In some ways, the previous book, with its stronger emphasis on the glorious Ellsworth family, would have made a more resounding series finale (wouldn’t we all love to be part of a big, rumbustious, affectionate family like the Ellsworths?). Still, this was a wonderful read. A very worthy five stars and I commend the whole series to anyone looking for a literate, intelligent and witty read with a true grasp of the Regency.
July 8, 2024
Delighted to see Dudley's #6 in this series come out, and find out what happens with Beatrice. Excellent series and one of my favorite writers.
June 16, 2024
Nice but a bit boring
June 16, 2024
Beatrice is the youngest of the Ellsworth Assortment, and her family fears she will never find love. They send her to the seaside with Tyrone and Aggie, and in a frightening bathing machine accident, she almost drowns until she is pulled from the briny waves by engineer John Clayton. From a different class than the Ellsworths, the diligent and inventive Clayton finds himself drawn into their circle. It is not until Beatrice's affections have been engaged that he reveals he is a betrothed man, promised in matrimony to his late employer's daughter....
This book nicely rounds out the Ellsworth Assortment series. The focus on canal building and cultivating investors adds interest to the romantic plot. Beatrice is not a vivacious young lady, but the author paints her so skillfully that she comes alive in the text. John Clayton is a man in an impossible position, one that he navigates with honor and duty. His immature fiancee is an amusing secondary character, and the glimpses of past Ellsworth favorites is an added delight to this novel.
This book nicely rounds out the Ellsworth Assortment series. The focus on canal building and cultivating investors adds interest to the romantic plot. Beatrice is not a vivacious young lady, but the author paints her so skillfully that she comes alive in the text. John Clayton is a man in an impossible position, one that he navigates with honor and duty. His immature fiancee is an amusing secondary character, and the glimpses of past Ellsworth favorites is an added delight to this novel.
June 28, 2024
Not quite up to the standard set by the previous books in the series, but only because it bogs down after the characters get to London and have almost no contact. The author set herself quite a problem having her Hero engaged to someone else almost the entire story. The second half of the book consists of long regret filled looks across a crowded ballroom. Bryson, I loved it. The secondary characters of Marjorie and Priscilla provide plenty of comic relief, along with Beatrice’s brothers the lovable and entertaining William and Edmund whom I loved so much in the last book. The Ellsworth Assortment certainly proves that family is complicated but when people love each other any obstacle can be overcome. I have to go back and reread A Fickle Fortune now because Harriet Hapgood and St. John Rotherwood are central to this story and I’ve forgotten theirs. Which will not be difficult. I love Christina Dudley.
November 30, 2024
So many fun connections to the sixth installment of the Hapgood series also! I quite enjoy when authors do so…like a reward to faithful readers. 😊 I’m also really hoping those 100 shared pay off. (If you know, you know.) some have lamented the lack of chemistry, but I prefer to think of it as the restraint of a more refined time when duty and honor held as much sway as romantic love. I’m also fully aware of the gross oversimplification of that statement. For many it was an era of base survival too. Maybe duty, honor, and love are noble ideas that should aspired to in any time and place?
Another Dudley series that is most delightful when considered as a whole—the epilogue of this book puts the whole ramshackle family into the same place at the same time, to give their youngest sister a delightful surprise. Dudley’s books feel like a primer for how family life can be when there is enough deep affection and humor to counterbalance an abundance of human foibles.
Another Dudley series that is most delightful when considered as a whole—the epilogue of this book puts the whole ramshackle family into the same place at the same time, to give their youngest sister a delightful surprise. Dudley’s books feel like a primer for how family life can be when there is enough deep affection and humor to counterbalance an abundance of human foibles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2025
Sono in realtà tre stelle e mezza, ma "in terra di ciechi un orbo è re"...
Chi ha avuto, come me, esperienza di 'sorellanze', non può non apprezzare il modo in cui CD entra in questo mondo familiare, fatto di complicità, ma anche di severità reciproca, e, nel caso della 'sorellina più piccola', di prolungata tutela.
Bea, la protagonista di questo episodio della serie Ellsworth, la 'lagnosetta' delle precedenti storie, costretta qui a confrontarsi con la sua vita da adulta, non ne esce benissimo, combattuta tra timidezza e avventatezza, e se non fosse per la vivacità di alcuni scambi l'avrei bocciata senza rimedio. E quanto al suo lui, neppure il background di povero apprendista può giustificare del tutto i suoi assurdi impacci.
Ma la storia è carina, raccontata come sempre in modo ineccepibile, e CD studia e conosce bene il contesto storico... e poi, sì, mi ha divertito la breve interferenza con la serie degli Hapgoods
Chi ha avuto, come me, esperienza di 'sorellanze', non può non apprezzare il modo in cui CD entra in questo mondo familiare, fatto di complicità, ma anche di severità reciproca, e, nel caso della 'sorellina più piccola', di prolungata tutela.
Bea, la protagonista di questo episodio della serie Ellsworth, la 'lagnosetta' delle precedenti storie, costretta qui a confrontarsi con la sua vita da adulta, non ne esce benissimo, combattuta tra timidezza e avventatezza, e se non fosse per la vivacità di alcuni scambi l'avrei bocciata senza rimedio. E quanto al suo lui, neppure il background di povero apprendista può giustificare del tutto i suoi assurdi impacci.
Ma la storia è carina, raccontata come sempre in modo ineccepibile, e CD studia e conosce bene il contesto storico... e poi, sì, mi ha divertito la breve interferenza con la serie degli Hapgoods
June 19, 2024
sweet
If this is your first Christina Dudley book (probably unlikely since this is book 6), I’d say: keep going! This was cute but lacking the “unputdownable” compelling nature of some of the author’s other works. It was really sweet though! Maybe it was a problem of too simple of a problem? It felt like it was lacking that certain something to move the story forward quickly so the plot and the love story never had that great (but clean!) tension that’s usually a hallmark of a Christina Dudley book. But, I still enjoyed it! I just love the little witty quips and asides—definitely not lacking in wit. And, in terms of the writing: very good, as usual. Still can’t wait for the next Christina Dudley book!! So excited to meet the Oxford crew.
If this is your first Christina Dudley book (probably unlikely since this is book 6), I’d say: keep going! This was cute but lacking the “unputdownable” compelling nature of some of the author’s other works. It was really sweet though! Maybe it was a problem of too simple of a problem? It felt like it was lacking that certain something to move the story forward quickly so the plot and the love story never had that great (but clean!) tension that’s usually a hallmark of a Christina Dudley book. But, I still enjoyed it! I just love the little witty quips and asides—definitely not lacking in wit. And, in terms of the writing: very good, as usual. Still can’t wait for the next Christina Dudley book!! So excited to meet the Oxford crew.
July 3, 2024
Historic Canals and a Loving Family heal Broken Hearts
Although their father had four different wives, the Ellsworth Assortment deeply love each other. Their father provided for them fairly. Beatrice has not been interested in suitors nor society until John saves her from drowning. Her brother’s family are on vacation with her and gratefully have John join their family activities. Since he had no family he is overwhelmed happily. John is an honorable man fulfilling a promise made on the deathbed of his boss. Mr Brand treated him like a son and guided his career in engineering. When he shares the promise, he and Beatrice find their relationship dramatically changed.
Although their father had four different wives, the Ellsworth Assortment deeply love each other. Their father provided for them fairly. Beatrice has not been interested in suitors nor society until John saves her from drowning. Her brother’s family are on vacation with her and gratefully have John join their family activities. Since he had no family he is overwhelmed happily. John is an honorable man fulfilling a promise made on the deathbed of his boss. Mr Brand treated him like a son and guided his career in engineering. When he shares the promise, he and Beatrice find their relationship dramatically changed.
July 4, 2024
Dudley Does It Again!
In A Capital Arrangement, Christina Dudley has once again admitted us into the Ellsworth family, to see the last unmarried Ellsworth fall in love with an ineligible man. He is already engaged to be married. The hero is worthy, the heroine willing, but in the Regency world a man simply could not break an engagement.
I won't say that the solution to this conundrum was a surprise, and it is a tender love story, low-heat, and had a happy ending! I really enjoyed it and if those are the elements you look for in a novel, I am sure you will enjoy it too.
In A Capital Arrangement, Christina Dudley has once again admitted us into the Ellsworth family, to see the last unmarried Ellsworth fall in love with an ineligible man. He is already engaged to be married. The hero is worthy, the heroine willing, but in the Regency world a man simply could not break an engagement.
I won't say that the solution to this conundrum was a surprise, and it is a tender love story, low-heat, and had a happy ending! I really enjoyed it and if those are the elements you look for in a novel, I am sure you will enjoy it too.
October 30, 2024
The final installment of the series follows the youngest Ellsworth daughter, Beatrice, as she falls in love for the first time -- and suffers her first heartbreak as well. This is as charming and delightful as the previous books, well-written and nicely plotted. I have enjoyed the entire series tremendously, from the quotes at the start of the chapters, to the historical details, to the wonderful family dynamics. I highly recommend the Ellsworth Assortment -- read in order -- for lovers of clean, intelligent, entertaining Regency romance.
June 15, 2024
Beatrice is very happy to stay a spinster but when she meets John during a mishap with a bathing machine she begins to rethink everything. Unfortunately there turns out to be complications that prevent their relationship to progress and things get even more complicated when they meet again in London. Eventually they do find their hea
June 16, 2024
A wonderful conclusion to the Ellsworth assortment
After watching Beatrice grow up in the previous novels, it is a great pleasure to see her happily ever after. She was a sensitive and challenging child and her family cared and protected her. She has grown up into a woman of character and joy. This book was a true delight.
After watching Beatrice grow up in the previous novels, it is a great pleasure to see her happily ever after. She was a sensitive and challenging child and her family cared and protected her. She has grown up into a woman of character and joy. This book was a true delight.
June 21, 2024
For me, this book was worth reading as it finishes a series I enjoyed, but the story itself was rather flat. The heroine and hero didn't seem to have much chemistry and were rather uninteresting. In addition, there was a repeated major error with a minor character's name being spelled two different ways, over and over. Also, the word "wisp" was misspelled as "whisp." I'm disappointed.
July 29, 2024
I'm still basking in the glow from reading this book. An absolute joy to read. Sadly, it's the last book in the series. I'm going to miss the Ellsworth family.
As usual, wonderful dialogue, beautiful prose, heartwarming characters, and a believable plot, with every T crossed and every i dotted. 5+ stars
As usual, wonderful dialogue, beautiful prose, heartwarming characters, and a believable plot, with every T crossed and every i dotted. 5+ stars
July 9, 2024
Very good story and wraps up the series nicely
Author gives us two wonderful series and will be starting a new series in 2025 which I anticipate enjoying too. Ellsworth family is a joy knowing and reading all six books about, feels like they were friends.
Author gives us two wonderful series and will be starting a new series in 2025 which I anticipate enjoying too. Ellsworth family is a joy knowing and reading all six books about, feels like they were friends.
July 22, 2024
outstanding!
Really, Ms Dudley, having started brilliantly with her first regency, simply gets better and better. Beautiful writing, and a story that as always, engages one’s emotions. What a delightful family the Ellsworth’s are, too. A thoroughly satisfying read.
Really, Ms Dudley, having started brilliantly with her first regency, simply gets better and better. Beautiful writing, and a story that as always, engages one’s emotions. What a delightful family the Ellsworth’s are, too. A thoroughly satisfying read.
July 27, 2024
A wonderful conclusion to the Ellsworth Assortment series! I loved the character crossover with her previous Hapgoods series as well. Clean, fun, fresh Regency romance—a feel-good read like all of Ms. Dudley’s titles.
June 15, 2024
So charming and I loved the cross over with Hetty’s story. Dudley writes relatable characters and adorable romance.
June 26, 2024
A good conclusion
June 29, 2024
Did English people of the early 19th century really use the term 'swim lessons'? I think it rather unlikely.
June 29, 2024
Not my fav by this author
July 8, 2024
Frustrating storyline
Christina dudley is great, and I enjoy her writing. But this was probably my least favorite of her books. I just didn't enjoy the plot at all.
Christina dudley is great, and I enjoy her writing. But this was probably my least favorite of her books. I just didn't enjoy the plot at all.
July 11, 2024
Good read!
glad to wrap up the Ellsworth Assortment.. Five books in a row is too long for me. I'll have to go read another Genre for a bit.
glad to wrap up the Ellsworth Assortment.. Five books in a row is too long for me. I'll have to go read another Genre for a bit.
June 30, 2025
This is delightful
This is a delightful light read. I enjoyed seeing a shy retiring girl blossom. All of Christina's regency romances are fun.
This is a delightful light read. I enjoyed seeing a shy retiring girl blossom. All of Christina's regency romances are fun.
July 8, 2025
good finish.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews