MY LORD BEAST

My Lord Beast is an unforgettable heart-stopping historical adventure with a strong dark element. A spirited heroine rescues her beast from the brink of madness and takes him to the heights of passion… but he will be torn from his love, for he stands accused of a cowardly crime…

Mary Lennox begins her tale with the shattered scene of a murder, taking place in a jungle in India. Lord Breme lives in torment because he believes that he shot his own wife and must relive fragments of the scene in his dreams, searching night after night for clarity of the horrifying event, which he cannot remember. A leopard attacked Aubrey Drelincorte, Lord Breme, soon after he was shot. His serene Indian servant, Ram Dass brought Aubrey home to England to recover; he uses traditional herbal remedies to treat the deep scarring across his face.

Lilias Merrit turned to gypsy friends when her father insisted that she marry a local farmer. Richard Landham is wealthy and undeniably handsome, but Lilias is aware of his cruel streak. She wants the gypsies to take her away with them to avoid making plans for the wedding. They lead her straight to Lord Breme. Lilias has heard that he is a hideous man, rumoured to have killed and mutilated his wife. All across England he is known as “Lord Beast, the Demon Earl”. She accepts a position as nurse and companion because she must hide from Richard and her father. Lilias is certain that Richard will look for her; he will not take such a blow to his ego lightly.

Initially the sight of Aubrey frightens Lilias. She is not sure that Lord Breme is any better than Landham. He is abrupt and rude. His manner makes her uneasy; if he were stronger he may harm or even murder her. She later realises that he uses his scarred face and moodiness to keep people away. He has many secrets and is tormented by nightmares, which leave him weary and ill tempered. Each time she glimpses the tender and compassionate soul under his harshness, Lord Beast emerges to set her straight, frightening her with cruel words. Yet Aubrey has come to admire his fearless nurse; she continues to stand up to him when others would back down.

Aubrey knows that his cousin and heir, Rupert Hindley, is trying to discredit him and will probably have him killed. He is determined to have a child to thwart Hindley, so must find a respectable bride. When Lilias is to host a small gathering of prospective candidates, Aubrey buys some spectacular new gowns for her. During the night she is mistakenly identified as Aubrey’s mistress because of her beautifully cut dress. The following morning she flees, her reputation is sullied beyond redemption. When the implications of his kindness come to Aubrey’s attention, he knows that he must go after Lilias. He wants to redeem her through marriage, but she stubbornly refuses his suit.

Mary Lennox uses some quite spectacular imagery and her talent for succinct words is, at times, breathtaking. She is able to create atmospheres and scenes with subtle narrative, which very cleverly draws her reader into the story. From such descriptions, this reader could clearly see Lord Beast’s dimmed bedroom and his hunched over form sitting near the fire. On a night when Aubrey and Lilias play their violins together, they speak the language of love through their music, daring to expose emotions that neither would admit out loud – as a reader I was sincerely touched and I swear that I could hear them play! The love scenes are intoxicating and highly charged, leaving little to the imagination. A foxhunt, highwaymen and high-speed chases are a small part of the action and suspense. The fast pace builds up towards the conclusion had this reader quickly turning the pages well past bedtime. Mary Lennox teases her readers with the mysterious character of Ram Dass, implying that he may also have a story to tell. (I can’t wait for this!) My Lord Beast is a definite keeper and I strongly urge historical fans to add this one to their collection!

Reviewed by: Naomi