An Irregular Arrangement

The Bradfield Trilogy #0.5

by A.L. Lester

It’s 1920. Val Wilkinson is twenty-one and old enough to leave her uncomfortable home-life behind. She’s been planning this for a while, but on the morning of her departure, she meets Flora Downs, the new vicar’s wife.

Flora is happy in her platonic marriage with her dear friend Tim and when she meets Val, she’s pleased to be able to offer her a place to stay in the vicarage whilst she finds her feet.

Prompted by anonymous letters to his superior, Tim is having a spiritual crisis over his commitment to the church. He joined because he wanted to help people, despite his family, and his lover, Rupert, telling him he was an idiot.

Rupert just wants everyone to be happy, however that happens.

Genres: Queer, Ebooks, Historical Fiction

44 pages, ebook

About the author

Writer of queer, paranormal, historical, romantic suspense. Lives in the South West of England with Mr AL, two children, a badly behaved dachshund, a terrifying cat and some hens. Likes gardening but doesn't really have time or energy. Not musical. Doesn't much like telly. Non-binary. Chronically disabled. Has tedious fits.
For updates, giveaways and general shenanigans: My newsletter and a free novella - my facebook group - twitter - instagram - tiktok.
I also write higher-heat contemporary MM romance as Frances Fox.

Reviews

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Val,” Flora continued. “May I introduce Rupert Loosemire? He’s the friend of Tim’s from town I was telling you about. This is my rather stupid husband, the Reverend Tim Downs. He will be back to his usual self very shortly, please do excuse him in the meantime.”
She turned to Rupert and Tim. “Gentlemen. May I present Val Wilkinson. Their mother and brother live at the manor, but Val will be living with us from now on. You will address them as Val or Wilkinson and you will refer to them as neither he nor she. Do you understand?” — Flora Downs

Warnings: misgendering and period appropriate intolerance/ homophobia

I have had this on my tbr for quite a while. It took me next to no time to read it and I'm so glad I did. It is short and gorgeously queer. I adore all of the characters, they are lovely. Enby Valentine "Val" Wilkinson with their attraction to women, lesbian Flora Downs who married her cousin, Timothy. Gay Tim is the new Vicar of Val's town, and his lover Rupert Loosemire is the last of the four narrators to be introduced. Each of them show love in their own way and show affection in their own way. Flora as Tims's beard is done well, to me it doesn't feel clunky it just feels right, it has only been relatively recently that my queer siblings have been able to live life in the open (tbh can they still hold religious office). Flora and Rupert have a wonderful relationship, there is no animosity between them. “I’ve not been very sensible, have I?” he said. “All along, I mean.”
“The only sensible thing you’ve done is stuck with Flora and me quite frankly, old chap,” Rupert said.
Flora nodded. “Rupert’s right. We’re collectively your best decision.” (Tim, Flora and Rupert) Actually Flora herself is just fantastic she is feisty and loving and helpful and caring. It is easy to forget she is only 23. There is It is a fairly simple plot. Flora helping Val, helping without expectation, and Tim making choices for his future. There are two chapters set after the main plot (later and much later), I appreciate the openness of the ending. The idea that they live on. Peace is made. Love is found. Lives are made but there is no finality to it despite the 1940s time setting. That openness could be offputting to some readers but for me, it works.

Just as warnings there is some misgendering and period-appropriate intolerance/ homophobia. The misgendering comes from the cishet and queer characters alike but among the queer characters, it is accidental. During the 1920s in a country setting the use of pronouns was highly unusual when the characters slip it just feels natural, while among the cishet characters, it feels more malicious and insulting. As a brief aside during the plot the characters of The Fog of War (Dr Sylvia Marks and Lucille Hall-Bridges) and Inheritance of Shadows (Matty Webber and Rob Curland) are mentioned. I recommend this as some queer historical representation. I really want to read more set in this world but this felt like an okay place to start. Through not where A.L. Lester recommends. They recommend Inheritance of Shadows.

“I was a naive young fool to think I could play the game and not have to abide by the rules. The bishop has had a letter, from someone in the village. Pointing out various social issues that I am not addressing. Women running round in men’s clothes... the letter’s words, not my own,” he added hastily as Val flinched. “Disgusting perversions among some of the farmers... babies born out of wedlock...” Flora and Val both huffed at that, “and finally... flagrant moral degeneration.”
“Good lord,” said Rupert. “This sounds wonderful. I’m extremely pleased I arrived when I did. Are there membership fees? A club tie?” — Reverand Tim Downs and Rupert Loosemire

A representative gif:

[Anna]

This was a bit of a disappointment. Based on the synopsis I was expecting this awesome QPR and it's technically there it's just so underdeveloped. I also have no idea how this plays into the rest of the series. It's supposed to be a prequel but neither one of the next two books are about any of the characters in this novella. Not to mention that this novella has an epilogue that takes place 20 years later So I'm not quite sure how that would fit into another book. It does have a cast of queer characters including a non-binary sapphic, a lesbian, and two gay men. It's not bad it just wasn't what I was expecting. I probably won't read the rest of the books.