Semi-Legit

I was toodling around the inter-web-nets this morning and found this little tidbit of awesome.  

I may or may not have squealed like a little girl.

(I found this at the very bottom of the article on Betty Neels...and you can too!)

Upcoming Reprise

Monday, July 8th

No Need To Say Goodbye

Orphan family, inherited cottage, heroine keeps trying to match up RDD with little sister Zoe.

Never Too Late--Reprise

Good Afternoon, Bettys,
It is with no small amount of irony that I post the reprise of 'Never Too Late' a little...um...on the late side.  Since the Van Voorheeses are in the thick of a summer heatwave, it has been difficult to appropriate a computer.  Evidently there's only so much running through sprinklers that can be done in 100 degree weather before the little darlings start wilting.  Weird.
Anyway, in my original discussion thread for 'Never Too Late', I asked:

At the very same wedding, their father is performing the ceremony.  I have no experience with this one.  If you were a bride, would you rather be walked down the aisle on father's arm or wedded by him?

The Catholic Bettys said it would not generally apply for obvious reasons, Mormon weddings (the more routine ones) don't have aisles at all and the couple walk in together (though the officiator could be a father) and some of our Protestant Bettys recall their pastors doing both honors.  Do we have any other experiences?
Love and Lardy cakes,
Betty Keira


Benedict van Vinke (37, RDD) is doing a solid for his friend James.  He's standing up as best man at James wedding to Nancy Trent.  Little did he realize that Fate, in the form of a red-headed stunner, would come walking down the aisle towards himself.  Fate - or rather, Prudence Trent - doesn't really notice him at first, she's busy looking at her fiancee Tony the Architect.  Tony is a looker, but he's also a pompous windbag .  Why Prudence has stuck with him for nearly FOUR YEARS is a mystery on par with crop circles or why artificial banana flavor Laffy Taffys are the best. 

Prudence (27) has a lively sense of humor, but she's stuck herself with Tony...a man who refused to be a wedding usher because it was Beneath His Diginity. He has plans to go off to America for a few months without her.  If there was a soundtrack of their relationship, it would be playing a funeral march in honour of the doom-ed-ness of the chance of Prudence and Tony tying the knot (yes, it's another lame-o fiancee named Tony).  Of particular concern to Prudence is the fact that she doesn't seem to even like Tony any more, let alone love him. The excitement of marrying Tony had fizzled like a kettle going off the boil. Something must be done. What does she do?  Chats up the best man.  He looks like someone who might be fun to know.  This does stir the pot a bit...Tony reproves Prudence - on the grounds of 'what will other people think?'  Oh no he didn't...yes, it's not that he's jealous, it's just that Appearances Must Be Preserved.  Prudence fetches up against the interesting Dutchman again and asks him how he would treat a fiancee.  Not like Tony has, that's for darn sure.

Tony just can't seem to help himself.  He tells Prudence to Stay Away From That Man, because he doesn't like him, besides, The Man is a foreigner.  That's torn it. Prudence has had her eyes opened.  How could she have allowed herself be dictated to for nearly four years by such a toad? Prudence goes into a slow burn which bursts into flame at his careless "Tired, old girl?".  Editor's Note: While no spring chicken myself, if Dr. van der Stevejinck tried that one out on me, he'd be making up the couch for the night.  Prudence decides that she doesn't want to get married.  The long engagement to Tony has soured her on the idea. But she bides her time.  She spends every free moment brushing up on her shorthand and typing and conning the adverts in the Telegraph. Her idea is to get a job - to counter any arguments Tony might have about breaking the engagement.

James and Nancy return from their romantic Scottish Honeymoon and plan a little 'drinks party' at their London home.  Prudence is invited to spend a couple of days with the newlyweds...(Nancy gets free help in the kitchen - she knows older sister Prudence can cook). Benedict stops by the party and stays on for dinner afterwards.  In the grand tradition of Younger Sisters in Neeldom, Nancy blurts out Prudence's plans...plans to break up with Tony and get a job. Cue the phone. Tony is on his way over. James tells her she can tell Tony - but she panics a bit - she hadn't planned to say anything until she had a job.  No problem, Benedict offers her one on the spot.  Considering the fact that he's just created a job out of thin air, he does a credible job of selling it. He needs a general factotum, type-er of English correspondence, arrange-er of flowers and caretaker of his six-year old daughter Sibella. A Girl Friday or a Universal Aunt.

She doesn't quite throw her engagement ring at Tony, but she does break up with him in front of James, Nancy AND Benedict.  And then hides out in the kitchen until he's gone.

The next sixty-ish pages tell the story of Prudence, The Working Girl.  Benedict is generous with salary, but he does expect (and gets) value for money. Prudence, Benedict and Sibella all get along great - for the most part.  The occasional harsh words are quickly apologized for...Prudence is really very happy.  She even quite likes Benedict's best buddy, Everard Herrisma.  Benedict is quick to notice how well they get along, and though suffering slightly from the pangs of jealousy, encourages their friendship.  Whether it's jealousy or impatience prompting him we'll never know, but whatever the reason, Benedict proposes a Marriage of Convenience.  It's quite a casual proposal, but it does get Prudence thinking.  She's thinking she'd make a better mother for Sibella than Myra. Did I forget to mention Myra? As far as evil villianesses go, she's not all that menacing...but she serves her purpose as a plot filler. She's a tall curvy blonde who's been after Benedict since his late wife died.  Were she to become the next Mevrouw van Vinke, Sibella would be given a strict nanny and kept out of the way as much as possible. 
Benedict does get around to a more formal proposal...I am no longer young, and you're old enough to regard marriage as something more than swanning off into the sunset...he also promises that if Prudence consents to be his wife, she's the only woman he will date.  Well, golly, you can't ask for fairer than that.  She can give her answer in the morning.
Benedict is darling at breakfast - he sends Sibella upstairs to fetch something so that he can have a minute alone with a sleep deprived Prudence and get her answer ASAP. She's a little peevish about how smug he looks - but he assures her that his good nights sleep was because he didn't have to think about it - his mind was made up.  Sibella is delighted that Prudence will be her mama. Prudence is pleasantly elated about the engagement, but not quite as thrilled to be told that she now has to return home.  It was fine to live under Benedict's roof when she was an employee, but now that they're getting married it won't be appropriate.  Not to worry, it's only for a few days, after all, Prudence's father is a vicar and knows all about Special Licenses and stuff. 

After a celebratory dinner with his godmother, Benedict sends Prudence off to bed...she ran upstairs holding back disappointment.  Even friends kissed occasionally. He overtakes her on the stairs...It would be a thundering lie if I told you I was quite out of the habit of kissing girls, but I still have to get into the delightful habit of kissing you, Prudence.
Off to Little Amwell with just enough time to put together a wedding outfit. Any qualms Prudence might have felt on the morning of the wedding are kissed into next week by Benedict. A very satisfying snog followed by a sweet little wedding - which takes place in the very place they met.
Back to Appeldoorn, Prudence is upgraded to the Big Bedroom. She and Benedict get along swimmingly - both quite happy...although Prudence doesn't know yet why she's so happy and contented.  Leave that to an inconvenient visit from Myra - who stops by to offer felicitations and innuendos.  Oh! As soon as Benedict gets home she realizes that...*gasp*...she loves her husband! Now that we've got that out of the way, it's time for some angst.  Some murky waters. Some jealousy.
Benedict starts reading signs wrong.  He comes home a little early one day and finds his wife chatting away quite cheerfully with his friend Everard. Benedict is quietly angry. That doesn't stop the two of them from accepting an invite to dinner as Casa Herrisma - wherein Prudence is enlightened by Everard as to his sad history of romance.

Everard's Tale

I have only been tempted to marry twice. The first time I was quite young - just qualified and full of dreams. Joanne Winkeler had green eyes and glorious red hair...and a temper to match!  She married someone else and went abroad to live. Since Facebook hasn't been invented yet, I have no idea where she is now. The second time I was tempted to marry was when I met you, Prudence.  You remind me of Joanne - gosh, I hope that didn't come out creepy - it's meant to be a compliment. The end.

Or is it? Well, it's the end of the dinner party - Benedict has come upon the two of them chatting and decrees that it's time to go home...in a not so very nice voice. Poor Benedict.  He's married to the woman he loves, but now he's thinking that she might fancy his friend.  Ouch.

Prudence and Sibella have a day out without Benedict - he had 'something to do'.  Whatever the something was, it must have involved Myra - because Prudence spots her husband driving Myra around.  She waits up that evening to rake him over the coals and then to cry herself to sleep. Poor Prudence.

Let's wrap stuff up.

Prudence runs into a green-eyed redhead!  It turns out to be the long-lost, now widowed, Joanne Winkeler.  Joanne still has a thing for Everard (her marriage was A Mistake), Everard still has a thing for Joanne...all they need is Prudence to bring them together.  Unfortunately when Prudence calls Everard at the hospital, Benedict overhears half of the conversation.  'Prudence, you mean that? Where are we to meet? At your house? I can hardly wait. Don't tell anyone yet.' Poor Benedict assumes the worst.

And now for...

The Party of Partial Resolution

Everard and Joanne get together, much to Benedict's relief.  Myra gatecrashes, much to Prudence's dismay - Pru assumes that Benedict must have invited her. Benedict straightens her out about that, but Prudence is pretty grumpy that he had assumed she was stepping out on him with Everard. Muddle, muddle, muddle.



Betty Debbie heartily endorses kissing in a castle



The family van Vinke head off to England.  Benedict has a lecture tour, Prudence will accompany him and Sibella will stay with Nancy and James.  The next few days are spent traveling about the country and staying with the kind of people who think nothing of newlyweds needing two bedrooms.  When the last lecture is over Benedict takes a side trip to Warwick Castle where the two of them straighten out their tangled webs and declare their love...and indulge in some not quite private snogging. The End.

Rating: One of the best first chapters in the canon.  I loved it! Prudence was adorable, Benedict was adorable, even Sibella was adorable.  I loved the little side story involving Everard and Joanne. Sister Nancy and husband James are adorable - we get to start with their wedding, the reception, honeymoon in Scotland, home in London, and end with their willingness to take Sibella for a week. Benedict is one of the best dads in Neeldom - he willingly spends time playing with his daughter and taking her places...he is suitably enthusiastic about the garish monogram pen she buys him...that's the true sign of a good dad.  He's the sort that will wear tacky Father's Day ties and proudly display children's artwork in his office. Queen of Puddings! 

Fashion: Blue maid-of-honour dress, mum wears a Mother-of-the-Bride hat, Prudence travels in her Jaeger suit, her wedding dress is a smoky grey dress with a matching quilted jacket and a little hat with ribbons hanging down the back. Benedict wears a dark grey suit with a silk shirt and Gucci tie. Prudence rips into Benedict while wearing a blue dressing gown.  For her first dinner party she wears a lilac crepe with a demure neckline and a cleverly cut skirt.  She wows the lecture circuit with a misty grey silk that is both demure and expensive.
Food: vol-au-vents, little cream cakes, sausage rolls, lobster patties twice, lobster soup, duckling in brandy sauce, Sibella likes aubergines, spiced chicken with apricots, ravioli (!) "Buttered toast!" he exclaimed. Bitter balls, celery sticks with cream cheese, tiny savory puffs, cheese straws.

Upcoming Reprise

Dear Bettys, 

So sorry to be a little late this morning.  It happens to be my 33rd wedding anniversary and Dr. van der Stevejinck took a personal day. 

Love and lardy cakes!

Betty Debbie

Monday, July 1st.

Never Too Late

Fiancee named (wait for it...) Tony(!), MOC, RDD has a daughter.

Never Say Goodbye - Reprise

My youngest pledge recently graduated from high school.  It was a big deal to me on many, many levels.  Many. 

During his final semester, he took a required class: CWP (Current World Problems).  One of the assignments he had, had to do with getting on a petition website called Change.org.  If you haven't heard of it, here's a little blurb from their site:

Change.org is a non-partisan organization that empowers anyone, anywhere to start and win campaigns for social change.

Every day, people who start petitions on Change.org win meaningful change using the most easy-to-use & powerful grassroots organizing tools on the web.

Evidently, anyone who wants to, can start a petition on this site.   Will it be you?

Where am I going with this?  If any book in the canon deserves a better title, a more descriptive title, and a new cover, this one does.  Who's with me?  Together, we can make a difference!

Viva la Revolution!
Betty Debbie

Grrr. Yet another name for a book that fails to disclose a hint of the awesomeness beyond.  I did a Google-image search for the cover and no less than four other authors had the same title.  The Great Betty herself had three other titles that began with 'Never'.  In the interests of disclosing the delights within, might I suggest another? (cough* feelfreetousethecoverart*cough)  

Isobel Barrington, 25, doesn't like private nursing.  (What Neels heroine does?)  She's plain but pert and due to her seven year stint hitch-hiking through India as a practitioner of Bikram Yoga she's also wicked-agile and in unity with the universe.  (Though that could be the ankle tattoo talking.)

No, I jest.  Isobel is a little starchy in her neat blue uniform and she's not about to let herself be pushed around by this disapproving, if hot, hot, kill-joy.

Dr. Thomas Winter is as cold as his name.  He lives in a gorgeous and frigid ice palace and takes one look at the young woman warming up his sitting room and just knows she's trouble.  But the pickings are slim and he needs someone fast.  His old Nanny, Mrs. Olbinski, lives in Poland (in 1983!) and since her husband has died she needs to be smuggled out of the country. 

No, not smuggled.  (Dang it!  I had just jury-rigged a diversionary device made from sugarless gum, a book of matches and a men's XXL wool suit coat.)  There are papers and processes but they should just be able to sail out of Gdansk.  And so, leaving her widowed mother (and public school fee-needing shadow sibling, Bobby) behind, she heads to their first stop, Sweden, with Dr. Winter.  

On the way there, she attempts to solve the enigma wrapped in a riddle that is her employer.  'I expect you're married.'  His look was meant to freeze her bones, only she wasn't that kind of girl.  She returned his stare with twinkling eyes.  'You expect wrongly, Miss Barrington.'  He looked down his patrician nose.  'Perhaps it would be better if I were to address you as Nurse.'  'Yes, Dr. Winter.' The twinkle was so disconcerting that he looked away still frowning. 

And their relationship goes on from there.  He attempts to be quelling (which she regrets as she sees the warm and kind man he can be while they stay with his friends) and she just refuses to be anything other than herself--restful, full of common sense and able to meet any circumstances.

And then they set off for Poland...in the midst of The Cold War.

Mr. Olbinski was a Polish dissident possibly like 1983 Nobel Peace Prize winner (and mustachioed babe) Lech Walesa

Perhaps you are wondering what The Great Betty had to say on the subject of the Cold War.  Answer:  Next to nothing.  We get an entire Polish interlude wherein the words communism, Cold War, Soviet Russia, Iron Curtain and NATO are not mentioned.  The closest we get to any concrete discussion of the repressive  regime is the factoid that Nanny's husband was a dissident (and lived a nice long life and presumably died of natural causes) and this little gem from Isobel's mother:  'Poland?  But isn't that,' she paused, 'well, eastern Europe.'  Well, yes, Mrs. Barrington.  It was.  It still is, as a matter of fact.  And the Poles themselves?  La Neels essentially compresses the lyrics of 'Russians Love Their Children Too' into a quip about how well the British are liked in Poland.  (Just go with it.)

We get the teensiest glimpse of a bona fide apparatchik when someone, who doesn't even have the decency to sound much like a commie goon, comes to the shabby apartment to tell Dr. Winter that Nanny's papers are not entirely ready.

They do some sight-seeing to pass the time and (we find out later) Thomas buys an amber necklace that Isobel admires.

Editorial Note: I don't know what was going through his head at this point.  I like to think that, even then, he recognized her as someone special (they do share a hand squeeze over some sublime organ music) but I can't quite bring myself to believe that he's already been bitten by the love bug.

They eventually return to Sweden and Isobel has a chance to showcase her exceptionally good cooking skills, formidable work ethic and ability to bond with old ladies.

And then they're back in London.  Almost as soon as they've taken their coats off, a whirl of blonde and pampered loveliness flings herself at Thomas.  Meet Miss Ella Stokes.  Ouch, you're thinking.  Isn't she a bit beneath his dignity?  Yes, she is.  But he's not shopping for a wife and Ella is at least manageable.  The doctor is well able to control his feelings around her so she's suitable as far as maintaining his lonely and independent existence goes.

Nanny proceeds over the next week to develop a thorough disapproval of that immodest 'saucebox' and an abiding attachment to Isobel--who treats Nanny like a treasured relation instead of a paycheck.  And for her part, Nanny can see that Thomas and Isobel are made for each other.

Thomas is 'preoccupied'--a clue so subtle that if you blink you will miss it.  Nanny has told him to mend his wicked ways and get married (anyone but the saucebox!) and he's grappling with feelings with approach attraction to that impertinent but warm-hearted nurse.  What to do?  What to do?

'Do you have a boyfriend, Isobel?'

That did not just come out of his own mouth, he must be thinking.  She answers him calmly enough but he's spooked enough to be gone before Isobel has to leave in a few days.

And that's when Isobel realizes that she's in love with him.  

Nanny's in tears.  (You have to put on your detective hat to realize that she's been sure that Thomas and Isobel would get together and if he's taking off now...Hankies!)

But Isobel sees him one more time before he goes.  'You feel I should have wished you goodbye, Isobel?  By all means let us do the thing properly, then.'  And he kisses her into next week.

Fast forward a week or two.  Thomas has sent a parting gift with a stiff little note--the amber necklace which she wears beneath her blouses.  She's just finishing another maddening private nursing job when Thomas shows up to collect her from Mother's house.  Nanny has been contracting pneumonia.  Thomas has been wrestling his demons.  And when Mrs. Barrington asks'How long will Isobel be with you?' it is all he can do not to enunciate slowly, 'For.ev.er.'

She nurses Nanny and they are eventually moved to his 'cottage' (read: des res, Hat tip, Betty Magdalen) by the sea for further recuperation--an excuse for Thomas to surprise her in a bikini and surprise her with Mother and Bobby (oh yeah, Bobby).  Everyone is thrilled to bits with everyone else and Mrs. Barrington and Nanny are already sewing baby-layettes out of daydreams.  (Heck, so is Thomas at this point.)

They reconvene briefly in London and Thomas corners her about that suspicious bump under her neckline. (Haul your minds out of the Brighton sewer system!)  'Why don't you want me to see that you wear the amber necklace?' 'It reminds me of Poland.'  His response is aggravated.  Why won't she just admit she likes him?  'I need nothing to remind me of Poland--or, for that matter, of you.'  And then he kisses her into next month.

But the next month isn't a very fun place to be.  Thomas has gone on a prolonged vacation (presumably with Ella in the Caribbean--Doesn't he know how near America that is?!) and Isobel returns home to find her mother laid out on the floor with a stroke.  She grows thin with worry over money and nursing her mother around the clock and longing for Thomas to come when she knows that he won't.

He finally does and ruthlessly shames her into letting him admit Mother into a rehabilitation hospital.  (I'm sure he hates doing it but plain speaking is the only thing that will force her to accept the help he is dying to give.)  And when Isobel has rested herself at Thomas' house she sets off to find another job--hopefully one that deals with night shifts or mental patients so it will pay well.

Her next case is a twofer: an insomniac head case that provides her ample opportunity to think. To forget him was going to be impossible, but to encourage thoughts of him was just plain stupid.  Thomas comes breathing hellfire down on her head for taking 12-hour-shifts.  He confiscates her pets and Isobel's control slips enough to suck her into an Ella-induced death spiral (Pull up!  Pull up!) wherein she babbles about honeymoons and best wishes and a lot of other old trot.

Isobel's Death Spiral

The Venerable Neels thrusts one more child (it's quite a habit with her) under the careening bus of True Love's Bliss.  She arranges for Thomas' godson to have the measles.  Isobel takes the case and never guesses that Thomas was behind the hiring (as he was also secretly behind having Bobby (you remember Bobby) sent off on vacation).  She has a lovely time (getting fat and rested) and at the end is collected by Thomas.  Why can't she seem to shake him?
Because he loves her.
They seal the deal on a hillside overlooking her childhood home (which he has just repurchased for Mother and what's-his-name to live in).
The End


Rating: I didn't remember loving this one all that much when I first read it--I think I was thrown a little off-balance by how unusual it is (Polish dissidents!), I had read Nanny as a more dour personality than she is and maybe I'd missed the subtle but numerous clues that Thomas' heart was lost early on.  So, I'm not speaking lightly when say that after this read this might be my new favorite Neels.  (I left a ton of wonderfulness out of the review.)
Thomas is deeply lonely (lonely enough to undertake a trip to Poland to bring back an old Nanny and lonely enough to tolerate Ella and Her Dance of the Seven Veils Shtick at all) and doesn't quite believe that he needs a wife (which is why we're okay with Ella being so awful...Thomas wasn't looking for deep and informative 7-part docudramas.  Instead, was channel surfing and she was the midnight infomercial he tuned into.  ('Set it and Forget it!)). The Great Betty was so consistent with him--he never, late in the book, says anything like, 'He really didn't know why he couldn't stop thinking about her...', negating all those signs he's given that he is being purposeful. (And you know La Neels did that a time or two.)  Nope.  He's in love and maybe flounders for a bit but that's as far as it goes.  And yes, Ella is draped like a stinking red herring all over the place but, aside from using her to get a little response from Isobel, her clinging is explained as just that.
Isobel is perfect--she's plain enough to never consider chasing Thomas (so, oddly, had she been prettier, she never would have got her foot in the door) and never loses her nerve or common sense.  Sure, she can't bring herself to be so twinkling at him after she realizes that he's the one for her (being caught in a never-to-be-reciprocated-love would put the damper on anyone's sense of humor), but she doesn't let her feelings for him send her back into any sort of shell. And if he needs telling off, she's still happy to do it.
Mother and Nanny are darling--watching the proceedings with enough knowing smiles and indiscretion to let the reader in on their secret.  
Bobby is a shadow sibling par excellence.  (Providing the important plot device of being a  financial drain with no pesky hanging about.)
Lashings of whipped cream, for this Betty.

Food: There was a lot but here is some of the more interesting offerings--Sprats, pancakes with jam, Aquavit 'for the men', smörgåsbord, hot beet soup, crayfish, pork knuckle, vastkustsallad, seafood pancakes and apricot flan. 

Fashion: A coffee-colored skirt paired with a shrimp pink blouse, a Liberty print blouse, a cream linen dress which douses her coloring, neat blue uniforms, and her treasured amber necklace that she tucks away inside her bodice (which is such a wonderful metaphor for the whole thing).  Ella is a 'vision' in a sky-blue suede skirt and blouse ('its buttons undone to what Isobel considered to be a quite indecent level').  She also dons a sheer silk blouse with nothing on underneath but her flesh!
Highlights for Isobel are the bikini (which I don't even approve of in real life but thank The Great Betty for on my knees) and a faded but flattering sundress.  The lowlight is when he walks into her house after mother's stroke to see her wearing a plastic pinny with 'All Hands on Deck' across the front.

Upcoming Reprise

Monday, June 24th.

Never Say Goodbye

Instead of a caption, I'm just going to post Betty Keira's cover art and title make-over:

A Kind of Magic--Reprise

Dear Bettys!
So sorry this post is a wee bit late.  I canna believe that I have five bairns and tis Summer! Ach! Ye ken?
Love and cock a leekie soup!
Betty Keira

The heroine is Scottish! The hero is...Scottish! Och aye, and it's away to the Highlands we go.

Rosie Macdonald, 25, lives with her parents down in the land of the Sassenachs.  They've been exiles for sixish years, while Uncle Donald Macdonald (who is really a cousin) has taken over the family homestead because dad lost some money some way and now works as an agent at a large estate in Wiltshire(Callooh! Callay! A Working Dad!) .

Grandmother, Mrs. Macdonald Senior, is a martinet.  Imperious, icy, demanding, selfish and stubborn - not your cuddly kind of granny at all. Mrs. Macdonald lives in Edinburgh with her housekeeper and downtrodden daughter, Carrie. Granny has decided to make a Royal Progress by way of a railway tour of Scotland and decreed that granddaughter Rosie will accompany her as her minion. Rosie is not all that keen to go - she knows acting as granny's companion won't be all sunshine and fluffy bunnies - but go she does.  The tour is just what she expected - full of older Americans with a smattering of Germans.

Granny, with all the good nature of a particularly vile strain of amoebic dysentery, declines to disembark the train at any of the scenic stops, and since she isn't getting off, neither is Rosie. The route passes within a few miles of ye olde family farm...which is still in the nasty hands of Cousin/Uncle Macdonald.  A word about him.  We know he is a Bad Man.  Why?  Evidently he had the bad taste to marry a...*gasp*...heiress, which rates only slightly below premeditated murder as far as crimes against humanity go.  That by itself would be bad enough, but we're also given an insight into his true nature. Rosie caught Uncle/Cousin beating his dog - way back when...and she's never forgotten it. Granny just hates him on principle (that's her default setting). 

The one and only time Granny gets off the train, she sprains her ankle. Enter Dr. Cameron. He's prompt and to the point - his patient comes first.  Rosie is peeved that he barely spares her a glance. And so it begins.  Rosie isn't sure she likes him (the apple isn't falling far from the tree - granny's not the only one who wants attention).

Rosie spends a lot of time and energy taking care of her crotchety grandmother - even to the extent of making her tea at 4am and losing out on some of her own beauty sleep.  This does not go unnoticed.  Dr. Cameron prescribes fresh air - which isn't going to help the lack of sleep, but will put some roses back in her lovely cheeks.

While taking her now daily constitutional, the gentle dew from heaven becomes more than a little torrential. Dr.Cameron, on his way to an emergency, picks up Rosie.  There's no time to drop Rosie off at the hotel. Uncle/Cousin Donald is gravely ill.  Rosie visits him in hospital, thus ensuring her family a mention in the will.
And now for a little refresher course on one of my least favorite plot devices:
Girl asks, 'Are you married?' Boy says, 'No, but I'm hoping to be in the near future.' Girl then assumes he has a girlfriend, boy assumes girl can read his mind, even though it's shielded like the starship Enterprise on a secret mission through Romulan territory.

Dr. Cameron drives Rosie and Grandmother back to Edinburgh in a dark blue Rolls Royce (which granny accepts as her just dues...and Rosie worries about the rental costs).

Aunt Carrie has a boyfriend! Despite being a dry and dusty solicitor, Mr. Brodie would like to marry her.  Granny thinks it's a load of rubbish for Carrie to run off and get married at her age...but her beau is made of stern stuff and manages to cut the ground neatly from under Mrs. Macdonald.

Dr. Cameron turns out to be Professor Sir Fergus Cameron - he works at the Royal Infirmary. Granny embarrasses Rosie clear down to the toenails with her 'you are on National Health?'

Rosie heads back to England.  But not for long.  Uncle/Cousin has the grace to pop off and before doing so, had the great good sense to change his will so as to leave the farm to Rosie's father. The family packs up and moves back to Bonny Scotland. Mum and Dad take the car and the family silver, while Rosie is relegated to taking the luggage on the train. Sir Fergus surprises her at the station in Edinburgh and drives her home.

Her: You're very far from home.

Him: Home is where the heart is.

Maybe his Scots accent was a wee bit too broad, but for whatever reason, Rosie is too thick to understand the veiled hint...then again, she thinks he's got, at the very least, a girlfriend if not an actual fiancee.

Most of the the middle of the book is taken up with much gadding about Bonny Scotland.  Walks to Rannoch Moor and drives through the countryside.  Rosie takes a couple of days to visit Edinburgh  - with a little bit of discretionary funds from dad to spend on new clothes..then hauls Granny back to Old Macdonald's farm. For some reason Rosie gets saddled with keeping granny happy.

Rosie is starting to think a little more kindly about Fergus - she likes him enough to be sad that he's going to marry soon.

While in Edinburgh, Rosie spots Fergus driving around with a beautiful woman. Oh yeah, the waters are positively murky.  Visibility is down to zero.   

There's a lovely little scene grocery shopping together in Edinburgh - tossing fairy powder and the like into a trolley, but it's quickly spoiled by the worst part of the book for me: Rosie asks Sir Fergus Point. Blank. if the woman she saw in the car with him was his fiancee. Point. Blank. Instead of doing the Extremely Simple Thing - which would have been to just tell her who it was (his married cousin), he avoids answering.  He thinks she might be...maybe...possibly dating young Dr. Douglas - and since he's being so cagey about the mystery woman, Rosie pretends she IS dating the young doc. Oh what a tangled web...

After finally realizing she's in love with Sir Silent-About-Important-Details, they spend the day together. More gadding about Bonny Scotland. Fort Williams, Lock Shiel, Glenfinnan, Lock Eilt...oh, this is a private drive - does it belong to you? Yes, and here's my mother.  

Being in love means pretending to be serious about young Douglas...but Fergus soon susses out the truth about Dr. D:  Young Dr. Douglas has no intention of marrying anytime soon, wants to marry for money, and much prefers the small and helpless type of female...which doesn't sound a bit like Big Beautiful Rosie. Next up:

• Aunt Carrie gets married in Tron Church - Grandmother looked rather like the bad fairy bent on casting gloom over the party.
• Fergus is again seen driving the beautiful mystery woman around.
• Highland Ball - Rosie asks young Douglas to take her. Fergus looks smashing in his kilt.
• When Rosie finds out that Fergus knows about her attempted deception, she's furious...
• Fergus plans to wed Rosie...but in the meantime he's the antithesis of a woo-er. She will have to figure everything out all by herself - he is not about to pluck ripe apples from the tree. Argh.

How will The Great Betty resolve this muddled mess? In spite of darkness and rain, Rosie spies a torch (that's Britspeak for a flashlight) waving and deduces that someone is in trouble. Three hours later Fergus drives by and comes to the rescue. His words, 'My brave little love,' break the ice a wee bit. But there's still the pesky matter of his fictional fiancee.

When Fergus does finally run her to ground and kisses Rosie soundly, she protests. What about the girl????
My darling, you forgot to read my mind - that was my cousin. Haven't I been driving all over Bonny Scotland with you? Let's have a big wedding - you can have three weeks to plan, otherwise it's off to Gretna Green! More kisses and a really delightful final paragraph. The End.

Rating:  The sound you hear is me, grinding my teeth. For a romance, A Kind of Magic is a great tribute to Scotland.  The Great Betty must have gotten a sponsorship deal with the Flying Scotsman...or the Scottish Tourism Board. Either-Or. So...lovely scenery...deliciously horrible Grandmother...but only a so-so love story.  Rosie seems to be taking after her grandmother in thinking mainly of herself - the least little thing seems to set her off.  Fergus may be hot, but he takes being a strong silent type a bit far. I can't quite picture a happily ever after for these two crazy kids.  Rosie will  spend as much time as possible taking offence at things, and Fergus will only get more and more silent as he ages. There will be some great behind closed doors bits...but for day to day living...not so much. Somewhere between a treacle tart and mince pies for me.

Food: Granny has lemonade with her pills. Shortbread, beef casserole, dumplings, treacle tart. Poached salmon, mushrooms in garlic butter(I made these last week!!), cucumber salad. Picnic lunch of sandwiches - smoked salmon, cold beef, cheese and pickles between thinly cut bread, lavishly buttered. Smoked salmon, roast beef with all the trimmings, millefeuille for afters. Lunch with his mother: smoked salmon (again!), trout, strawberry tartlets. Cock a leekie soup, shoulder of lamb, a dream of a trifle.

Fashion: Cream jersey, lovat corduroy skirt and country blouse with matching gilet (which seems to be what we Americans would call a vest - or a sleeveless jacket). Mrs. Macdonald wears a black crepe number with pearls. Pale green cotton jersey, chiffon and taffeta evening dress in old rose, denim skirt (see cover art!) for walking with Fergus - he wears cavalry twill trouser and a cotton sweater over an open necked shirt. An old dress and worn-out gym shoes and extra large gloves for weeding the rose garden. Grandmother's hat (for Aunt Carrie's wedding) is a masterpiece of black straw, tulle and curled feathers. Rosie wears white chiffon with a tartan sash to the Highland Ball, Sir Fergus rocks a kilt.