Miss Dortons Hero [Mass Market Paperback]

Her name was Margaret Dornton. Evelyn Dade called her Pearl. He and Death were close friends ever since the War of Waterloo. The Ton called him the Captain of Death. Just for a woman to be seen with him was instant ruin. Thus, when Pearl and he were seen together, Pearl and her two sister were instantly outcasts in society. It made no difference that Dade had been rescuing Pearl from a mad dog.

Dade had horrible nightmares of the war and felt no other could possibly understand. Pearl, however, witnessed her little brother's death when she was but three. She understood horrible nightmares better than he could believe.

***Elisabeth Fairchild brings out the untold parts of war...the effects left on the ones who lived through it. Many people today still have these nightmares. Many historical facts are scattered throughout the story as well. The story is not only very romantic and lovely, but realistic as well.***

Miss Margaret Dornton is a naive idealist whose imagination has been fired by tales of courage, great deeds, and heroism. Her desire to emulate the courage of her heros leads her into several very ill-considered actions which have serious repercussions for those around her, including her twin elder sisters, and her cousin Allan.

Major Lord Evelyn Dade was the sole survivor of his regiment at Waterloo. He is a broken man obsessed with death and guilt.

These two people would appear to be complete opposites, but there is more beneath the surface. Margaret Dornton is also acquainted with tragedy, and has had her own struggle with guilt. While the attraction between this pair is immediate, it does not lead immediately to commitment. Nevertheless as the story progresses there is growth in both Margaret and Evelyn. She looses her dewy-eyed romance with heroism as she comes to grips with the cost paid by the hero who survives. Evelyn begins to heal as Margaret's wisdom and caring draw him out into the light.

I liked this book. The similarities which draw Margaret and Evelyn to one another are believable. Elisabeth Fairchild is an author with considerable insight into people, especially men. For example, there is a months-long silence between the couple. It's the kind of thing that occurs between lovers which drives women absolutely crazy with its incomprehensibility. --This portion of the story is told from Evelyn's perspective. Another is the way in which Evelyn acts upon Margaret's encouragement for him to talk to someone about his horrific experiences. Normally, the hero would unburden himself to the heroine. Neither Margaret, nor any woman, is first to receive Evelyn's confidences. It is threads and touches of this sort that make Fairchild's novels rise to the upper rank of the Regency genre.

Captain Dade is a beautifully crafted character who must wrestle with acts of war that no human should ever see much less participate in. Is guilt the penance one pays for the gift of survival?

After the war, Dade saves a lovely young woman in distress by doing nothing more than chucking two chess pieces at a snarling dog. When the black pawn and the white knight scare the animal away he is left to meet Miss Dornton. Sweet and innocent, Margaret Dornton is a breath of sunshine entering his dark life. In her eyes he sees hero worship of a sort, the last thing he wants or feels he deserves. Eventually, Dornton must sort through his mixed feelings about surviving the Battle of Waterloo and decide if he wants sunshine or darkness in his life.

Ms. Fairchild deftly handles the delicate subject of survivor's guilt in "Miss Dornton's Hero". Readers will be swept along hoping that Captain Dade can chose to embrace life and the living. I can't finish my review without saying that Fairchild created one of the greatest kisses in literature since Rhett Butler kissed Scarlett O'Hara. A MUST READ.