The Butler Did It
Kasey Michaels
Harlequin HQN, Sep 2004, $6.50, 400 pp.
ISBN: 0373770065

Five years ago, Lord Morgan Drummond lost his temper over an insult to a lady love and fought a duel of honor. Afterward, when he reflected back on his stupidity he thought he almost killed someone over nothing or he could have died as his father Mad Harry had when he was young. Feeling ashamed that he could have left his mother mourning and all alone, Morgan exiled himself from London to control his temper and make things right.

Now Morgan feels ready to return to high society so he travels to London only to finds his home has been invaded by strangers. He tries to toss these weirdoes out, but instead is blackmailed by an elderly lady to allow these squatters to remain. Morgan cannot believe he is a hotelier to lunatics who belong in Bedlam. However, the worst of the lot of maniacs is Miss Emma Clifford, seeking a husband amongst the Ton. Morgan decides that if he finds her a spouse, he rids himself of her and her pesky kooks until he realizes he loves Emma and wants to play host to her and her brood permanently.

This amusing Regency romance feels like a historical British You Can't Take It With You or the Adam's Family joins early nineteenth century aristocratic London. The storyline never takes itself seriously as Morgan plays straight man to a bunch of nice nutty folks. Even the romance plays second fiddle to the top banana, Kasey Michael's humorous historical escapades.

Harriet Klausner