A Charming Fellow, Volume II

In Lady Seely's drawing-room, where every glance carries weight and every word conceals three more, young Algernon Errington finds himself the unlikely center of everyone's attention. But charm, it turns out, is both blessing and curse when you're a young man whose every gesture sends ripples through the delicate ecosystem of Victorian society. Miss Kilfinane watches Algernon with a look that blends admiration and exasperation in equal measure - the particular torment of a woman who cannot quite decide whether she's in love or in fury. Meanwhile, the whispers about a potential engagement to Castalia Kilfinane set the social circles abuzz, drawing in characters like Jack Price and the wonderfully named Mrs. Machyn-Stubbs, each with their own opinions and agendas. Frances Eleanor Trollope, daughter of the famous Anthony Trollope, proves herself a keen observer of the brittle niceties of her era, revealing the jealousy, aspiration, and sheer performance that underlie polite conversation. This is a comedy of manners in the finest tradition - sharp enough to draw blood, warm enough to keep you turning pages.