The Frenchman & The Lady

The Frenchman & the Lady / Elizabeth Cadell
London: Penguin, 1959, c1951.
222 p.

I've read one book by Cadell in the past, Mrs. Westerby Changes Course, which had its title changed in a later publication. The same has happened here, since this book was first published under the title Enter Mrs. Belchamber. Perhaps the publishers thought that titles featuring settled "Mrs." wouldn't sell?

In any case, this book is a bit of a mystery, but really more of a romance in the end. It seems to slowly shift genre as we go. Christopher Heron is in France picking up 3 young children that he is taking charge of, to deliver to their English family after their French mother has died. They find a carriage in the train that Mrs. Belchamber is inhabiting alone, with a wonderful description as the book opens of how she has managed to drive off any importunate travellers so far. 

And now she's stuck with three small children and a man who doesn't seem to know how to look after children. Fortunately, she thinks, at least these small French children have manners. 

Mrs. Belchamber sees someone on the train who upsets her; Christopher notices and wonders about it, but doesn't expect the outcome. When they get to England, the weather prevents them from getting to London so he takes a car to go stay with a friend who has a farm nearby. Mrs. Belchamber sleekly inserts herself into the mix and as it turns out it's a good thing, as the little girl has measles and they have to quarantine at the farm for most of the book. 

There is lots of humour to be had in Mrs. Belchamber's reaction to the slovenly household at the farm, and the way she takes charge. The depiction of the housekeeper, a quaint rural villager who seems straight out of Mary Webb, is a bit strong for modern tastes, however. 

In any case, all the tangled threads unravel as we go, with Mrs. Belchamber's story slowly revealed (although she gets the best of the person on the train, as she does with everyone). There is also another plotline when Christopher meets a pretty girl from down the road, whose father is unfortunately a bit of a con artist, at a time when this association could ruin a girl's prospects. 

It's a charming story with lots of country flavour, a strong sense of England Forever, and some naive children experiencing English life to add to the story. It all feels a bit forgettable in the end, even with some sharp and amusing passages included. All the obstacles in the plot turn out to be vague and easily dealt with, so the drama of the story is really undercut. But as a bit of a character study, with a mix of characters thrown together, it's a light and easy read for hot days in a hammock.