The Worthington Wife

November 28, 2016
Page offers those jonesing for Downton Abbey a supplemental dose of unconventional British jazz age characters in this vibrant sequel to An American Duchess. Lady Julia Hazelton has poured herself into her charitable work with war widows since the death of her fiancé, the future earl of Worthington. When the new earl, Cal, arrives and promises to destroy the estate to avenge his lower-class mother, who was spurned by his father’s family, Julia feels compelled to change his mind. As the two grow closer, Julia attempts to expand proper roles for ladies, and Cal realizes the selfishness of his vengeance. Frustratingly underdeveloped minor characters, including tenants, servants, Julia’s other love interest, and mysterious gangsters from Cal’s American past, enter and leave the story with dizzying speed. With this cast and the additional plot involving the deaths of three possibly murdered local women who strongly resembled Julia, the work veers dangerously close to overstuffed and uncontrolled. Page manages to hold it together through her captivating portrayals of Julia and Cal, beautifully capturing the tension between desire and responsibilities and allowing the two protagonists room to evolve. This work will delight fans of melodramatic period pieces.