They bonded over books.
Alice Locky, "abigail" to Lady Jemima, had just settled down to finally start Middlemarch. She was unusual in that she was brought up from the downstairs servants to the position of personal ladies' maid due to her initiative and winning personality. But it was a labor intensive job-she attended to all of her lady's needs and whims, rose before her and tucked her into bed at night. She felt that she earned her rest and reading time. But there was a problem in the servant's quarters. The resident bully and blowhard went after a visiting maid and a visiting manservant stuck up for her. Then that man, Charlie Wells, asked Alice if she enjoyed books by Charles Dickens. And he was cute...heart flutter. Turned out he was the personal servant to Lord Wynstone who was visiting Lord and Lady Alderwick, Jemima's parents.. Wynstone was very handsome and very wealthy but also very eccentric, not exactly Lady Jemima's cup of tea. She was glad he was leaving tomorrow.
Charlie and Alice met again in London when their master and mistress returned from their country estates. By this time, they knew that sparks were flying. The problem was that they would only get to see each other every so often and that does not a romance make-what to do? And so was hatched the perfect plan-all they had to do was marry off her lady and his gentleman, even though she despised him and he was at best, indifferent to her. To complicate matters, Lady Jemima had fallen for a cad and a bounder, but wouldn't believe anyone that told her that he was evil
Meanwhile, Alice was starting to read some interesting, yet radical, pamphlets on the rights of women, which made her reevaluate all of her life decisions, especially those of love and romance. Can this love story be saved?
Waldman turns the Regency romance novel on its head-instead of a tale of the gentry, she writes about a romance between their underlings, she brings in the budding ideas of women's rights and human equality, and she gives her main character choices. The narrative is written in the second person, with several asides to the reader, so you know she is addressing you but you don't know who the narrator is-you will be surprised to find out. A Perfect Hand was a refreshing take on the many Jane Austen read-alikes that channel her writing but don't add anything of their own. Tea and crumpets for all!
Reviewed by Donna Ballard
May 19, 2026
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