To say I have been anticipating The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews would be the understatement of the year. It's my most anticipated book of the year and having read it...it did not disappoint.
The story follows Teddy Hayes ad Stella Hobhouse. If you are a fan of Matthews' work, you know these characters. Teddy is a disabled painter in a wheelchair who has a mouth as smart as his artistic mind. He doesn't worry about etiquette or good manners. But for Stella...he might make an exception. A little one as least.
Stella is the grey-haired friend of Evelyn, Julia, and Anne of the past three books in the Belles of London series. She lives with her vicar brother Daniel and is at his whim for where she goes. Having read through his scenes...he is a pompous turd.
Teddy abd Stella first met at a museum and Teddy was deadset on painting Stella. Horrified, Stella was like NOOO as any well-bred lady would be. Thinking they'd never see each other again, they were shocked to be staying at the same house party. During this party, Stella agrees to sit for him (but only for a sketch) and that begins the start of their romance. They don't know its a romance yet, but we'll get there.
The Muse of Maiden Lane is the final book in the Belles of London series
Stella does something shocking before the party though. She dyes her hair. That is something reserved for actresses and sex workers at the time. And when her maid washes her hair...welp, things happen. Luckily, her friend Anne saves the day but being back to her grey hair isn't any better. So, she finds herself in the company of Teddy.
Unfortunately, they don't have long and are soon separated. Teddy to Devon and Stella to her home with her brother. To say it's miserable for her would be an understatement. But Stella fights back and it is glorious in every way possible. Stella may have her moments of worry and shyness, but she gives as good as she gets when she's cornered. I literally screamed in delight.
So how does the romance continue? Letters! I love any book that features letters and these are so well done I could cry. They correspond under Teddy's sister's name to keep up with propriety but these letters show how much they bonded during that short time together.
And then...welp, Stella goes out on her own. Like I said, she shines when backed into a corner. Especially when her friends are involved. She is set to go to Anne's wedding and nothing and no one, including her brother, will stop her. This scene had me smiling like an absolute fool. I already loved Captain Blunt but now I love him even more.
This brings Stella to London, where Teddy is, and so starts the real romance between these two. And the painting of Teddy's muse! It's so freaking good and swoon-worthy and delightful in every way. Teddy is easily my favorite male character Matthews' has written. He is honest but not cruel, sweet but not sickly, and passionate beyond belief. I could read his dialogue to Stella for days. My other favorite of Matthews' characters is here as well, but I'm not giving that one away. Stella is a close, CLOSE second, though.
Another reason I have been waiting for this book is because of the disability rep (which I thought was excellent and nuanced for the time period) and a heroine with grey hair. You don't see these two often enough in historical fiction and I loved how both aspects were portrayed in the story. But I also LOVED that it was brought up early on that while grey hair can be a problem for Stella, it's not a disability. Really enjoyed how that was gotten across.
I am sad to see this series end, but there is another coming soon. And there is plenty of time to reread this series before the next book.
The Muse of Maiden Lane is out now in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats.