Enter Mrs. Belchamber

by Elizabeth Cadell

After delivering three children to a farm in rural Kent, Christopher Heron is surprised to find that his difficult traveling companion, Mrs. Belchamber, not only is quite helpful with the children, but also introduces him to an attractive neighbor

Genres: Fiction, Romance

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

Violet Elizabeth Vandyke was born on 10 November 1903 in Calcutta, British Raj, daughter of British parents, Elizabeth Lynch and Frederick Reginald Vandyke, a colonial officer. During the Great War she studied music in London, but refused a musical career and returned to India where she married in 1928 Henry Dunlop Raymond Mallock Cadell, and they had a son and daughter. After she was widowed ten years later, she returned to England.

Elizabeth wrote her first book 'My Dear Aunt Flora' during the Second World War in 1946, there after producing another 51 light-hearted, humourous and romantic books which won her a faithful readership in England and America. In addition to England and India, many of her books are set in Spain, France, and Portugal. She finally settled in Portugal, where her married daughter still lived.

She died on 9 October 1989, aged eighty-five.

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a delightful read.

Mrs. Belchamber is an absolute hoot. She’s a character modeled after the stereotypical British aunt. As she settles into her seat in her train carriage car, she discovers to her utter horror three children and their elder cousin entering it. Despite her best efforts, she’s saddled with them all. Or rather, Christopher Heron views it as he’s saddled with her! Mrs. Belchamber begins a swift management of them all. Before Christopher can question why a Frenchman was referring to her as “Mamán” and why she was avoiding a woman at the train station who was attempting to get her into a car, he finds himself traveling to a friend’s house with Mrs. Belchamber and children in tow. He’s also brought along a case of measles... which was the perfect excuse for Mrs. Belchamber to insert her authority on the care of the child.
A comedy ensues involving dodging representatives from an elderly home, romantic rivalries for the lovely neighbor, farm life and management, and swindles by said lovely neighbor’s father. This was a rapid paced romp of a read which I recommend.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate to say it but this was a disappointment. There was a character introduced in the story who changed the tone of it in a way I didn’t like. The character isn’t in the story a ton but it took away from the comedic set up and gave it a slightly darker undertone. The threads of the story weren’t very consistent and I thought one character who was introduced earlier on would be a bigger part than she ended up being. That was disappointing. The ending tied things up nicely and I did like how so many disparate personalities learned to live together and even to become a kind of family.

[Alana/MiaTheReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Cadell book, but I adore her stories and characters, her mid-century English or European settings, and the occasional unexpected plot twist. I'll keep working my way through her many books, enjoying myself all the while!

[Jessica Langerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the Best of Them All

If you are new to Elizabeth Cadell, or looking for one of her books to give a friend to read for the first time, this might be it! It has everything: charm, romance, and a mystery at the heart of it that is neither violent or frightening, but simply delicious. Elizabeth Cadell’s characters are so believable and so much fun. This book could be updated today to make an absolutely terrific movie. I heartily recommend it!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Heron is bringing his three half-French wards to live in England when he encounters Mrs. Belchamber, a sharp-tongued, opinionated expatriate Englishwoman returning to live in England. The boat-train is late and it's pouring rain, so he takes the children to his friend Scotty's nearby farm --only to find that Mrs. Belchamber has come with them.

Mrs. B. is evading both a middle-aged Frenchman who, astonishingly, calls her Maman, and the very correct and officious social workers sent to bring her to the upper-class old people's home she plans to endow.

The farm is filthy, Mr.s B. is maddening, but next door is beautiful Cressida Grey, with her oh-so-charming but ever so slightly shady father.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christopher is bringing his three cousins over from France to England when he meets a stiff English widow who latches onto his party. He can't seem to shake her. And when one of his cousins comes down with the measles, he is glad of her company. Maybe.

I like this author. Nice characters, simple enough plot. Nothing deep, but a good story.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

As old as Elizabeth Cadell's books are, they are still extremely enjoyable. Good humor, likeable characters, good story line. Haven't been disappointed since I started reading this.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourites

This story of a young Englishman, the three orphans is his charge, the old woman who attaches herself to him, the friend whose farm they stay at, the beautiful neighbour with whom he falls in love... all in all it reminded me of the farmer in the Dell! But it has all of Cadell's charm and humour and little of her nastiness. Even the cranky old woman is loved by the children, and slowly breaks down the others' dislike. The "mystery" (they are often so slight that I have trouble calling them mysteries) is amusing as is the way it plays out. Even the scapegrace father is likable. I enjoyed reading all of it. I was distracted by the typos which seemed worse than usual: yes for eyes, missing apostrophes, inexplicable underlining. There were over a dozen of these sorts of mistakes throughout the book. Comparatively, these books are expensive. It is a shame that they won't pay someone to read through and correct the typos before issuing them-- the mistakes are all clearly cases where the text-reader has mis-interpreted the original copy, and they are easily spotted. It was not so bad that I felt I needed to down grade it, but a bit worse than the others have been. Nevertheless, it is a good book, and it is nice to have it in digital form.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a light, frothy romantic story which seems rather old-fashioned now. I enjoyed it. An enjoyable bedtime read.

[Cassandra]

Another unsuccessful attempt to read Cadell. Almost interesting for the bizarre class aspects of everyone hating Cressida's father, but still too artificial.

[MB (What she read) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that ending was underwhelming.

This particular book seemed more dated. Back in the day when a single professional man could blithely inherit 3 foreign young children (one with measles), and with no worries, he assumes that every female he comes in contact with would happily drop everything to take over their care--and they do--while he lollygags around falling in love and doing practically nothing. Dated gender roles much?

As the book ends, nor will he ever have to assume more responsibility than being the bon homic figurehead of this family. All of his wishes will be catered to from thence forward.

I didn't have a ton of respect for this hero...can you tell?

[Sharon J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great story, lousy transcription

I loved this story. It was sheer light-hearted fun. But my recommendation is to buy it in paperback as the kindle version was so full of errors it was difficult to read. There was obviously no proofreading done whatsoever. Whoever transcribed this story just read it aloud to a device that used autocorrect and left the mistakes as they were. It is a garbled mess! Can I get my money back?

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Cadell that I had been looking for for years but finally was able to get thanks to them being re-issued! So grateful because this one definitely did not disappoint. Usual Cadell mix of orphaned children, nice romance and wonderfully drawn characters - especially Mrs. Belchamber. It's fast paced and fun to read with a nice denouement that resolves everyone's problems. Highly recommend this one especially if you are new to Elizabeth Cadell.

[Ejchri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad to have rediscovered Elizabeth Cadell!

Many years ago I had read all the Elizabeth Cadell books which my city's library had. It was so long ago that online book services weren't around yet.
I hadn't really thought more about Cadell for a long time, but this book is one I'd never read. I'll choose more now, both old favorites and the newly found ones!

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy stories where Cadell includes children, in this instance three French children. Her children behave like children, and they are fun to read about. There was a lot of plot in this book, but I still enjoyed it.

[helen ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fine muddle

In true Elizabeth Cadell fashion several assorted and very different people are thrown together and after many many misunderstandings the whole situation is sorted to everyone's satisfaction. Fun

[Ymt01 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young man assumes guardianship of three French orphaned cousins, and ends up acquiring old Mrs Belchamber. A rustic farmhouse and measles for most of the story. The heroine is the least convincing part, but the other characters are lively and attractive.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

None of the characters is convincing and nor is the plot. Somehow or other it’s still enjoyable.

[Vicki Elmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful characters; comforting setting in England; sweet plot. Totally enjoyed.

[Margaret E. Beacom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Frenchman and the Lady. It was full of suspense —and surprises! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Elizabeth Cadell’s work.

[Reader]

Started off promisingly but got more trough like and difficult to concentrate on No catchiness at all. Actually more catchiness than delivery. Disappointing and couldn't finish

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three orphaned children, a strong-willed older woman, and a case of measles, and this farm is paradise enow! Frenchman? Even he eventually turns up and gets sorted.

[Sep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul is bringing his three orphaned half-French cousins (and now his wards) back to England. Along the way he has an unpleasant encounter with an elderly, bossy, English widow named Mrs. Belchamber. Through a series of circumstance improbable though possible all five of them end up at Paul's friend's farm. Josette the only little girl has come down with measles. Everyone must stay until she is well.

This book is Cadell at her best. Slow moving plot, interesting and quirky characters and, of course, a beautiful girl with whom Paul falls in love. Does she love him back? Maybe. Her reasons for postponing their wedding are improbably though they do create a little conflict.

Rereading this story as a now elderly woman myself, I enjoyed Mrs. Belchamber a lot. She has a practical grasp of reality. Her dry remarks point out the error of the younger characters ways with just the right amount of good will. Most important of all, the children see through her gruff exterior and love her.

The title appears a bit off the mark. There is a Frenchman but he has a tiny, tiny part. The title I read it by was "Enter Mrs. Belchamber." I think that this is a better name because she is truly the Deus ex Machina of the plot.