THE MUSE OF MAIDEN LANE

A silver-haired equestrienne and a disabled artist navigate the expectations of Victorian society while falling in love.

Stella Hobhouse is accustomed to standing out for all the wrong reasons, thanks to the gray hair she’s had since she was 16. Now, at 22, she’s beginning to wonder if she’s destined for spinsterhood, since her love of horseback riding and independent nature haven’t exactly made her a desirable marriage candidate. Trapped at a friend’s house party over the holidays, Stella has resigned herself to being a wallflower—until she runs into a handsome stranger in a wheelchair. The thing is, Teddy Hayes isn’t exactly a stranger. Stella met him once before, when their paths crossed at a museum in London, and the charming artist now makes her the same proposition he did then: He’d like to paint her. As far as Teddy is concerned, Stella is not only the most striking subject he’s ever encountered, but the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. Convincing her to pose is an entirely selfish request, one that Stella initially meets with resistance. As an unmarried woman, it would hardly be appropriate for her to sit for Teddy, especially if it means they’ll be alone. But Teddy isn’t so easily deterred; he’s adopted a new philosophy of life following the bout of scarlet fever that put him in a wheelchair, and he sees little reason not to pursue what he wants. As Stella navigates her increasing level of interest in Teddy while trying to avoid her clergyman brother’s efforts to marry her off, and Teddy attempts to convince Stella that she’s lovely enough to be his muse, they both realize they could be of use to each other—by way of a marriage of convenience. The fourth chapter in Matthews’ Belles of London series is a charming conclusion, bringing back many fan-favorite characters from previous installments to support the main romance. The stakes may be high when Stella and Teddy are forced to consider marrying each other for mutual benefit, but the angst level isn’t, and their journey to falling in love is as sweet as it is satisfying.

An effortlessly elegant slow-burn romance.