ARC Review: The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews

The Muse of Maiden Lane
Author: Mimi Matthews
Series: Belles of London (Book 4)
Publication: Berkley (November 19, 2024)

Description: A silver-haired equestrienne and a charismatic artist turn a scandalous bargain into a vibrant portrait of love.

Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist—and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother’s pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is on the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic…like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who’s ever really seen her.

Aspiring painter Edward “Teddy” Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist’s model but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He’ll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience.

After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella’s luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture….

My Thoughts: The final volume of the Belles of London series stars Stella Hobhouse. Stella is under the care of her brother who is a vicar. She has a small inheritance from her father which is enough to care for her horse and hire a groom for him, but not enough for independence. She chafes at her limited life in Derbyshire which is about to get even more restrictive when her brother marries a young woman who is a sanctimonious prig and who wants her gone. 

Stella met artist Teddy Hayes at a house party she attended with her friend Anne. Stella was hoping to find someone to marry and died her distinctive grey hair to present a bolder and less controversial appearance. Teddy had met previously met her at a London museum and was intrigued by her whole appearance grey hair and all. He believes that she can be the muse he has been searching for to make his series of paintings which are not of a traditional style. However, respectable young women don't pose for artists in 1863.

Teddy is in a wheelchair after a severe bout with Scarlet Fever some five years earlier. He is only gradually reconciling himself to his future and gradually winning his independence as a grown man. He has a loving family that is determined to shelter and protect him almost to the point of stifling him. 

Teddy comes up with a solution that will solve both of their problems. He proposes a marriage of convenience which will let Stella gain independence from her controlling brother and will convince his sister and her husband that he won't be alone and uncared for in London. But a marriage of convenience doesn't allow for the fact that they are falling in love with each other. 

This was an engaging historical romance with lots of interesting historical details. I also liked that the main characters had realistic problems. While hers were more typical for the time period and lack of women's rights, his were more unusual. Both were being held back by society's expectations.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.