Scandal in Spring (2006) (edit title/settings)

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• Daisy Bowman: American, 22, pretty, short, brown-black hair, cinnamon-colored eyes, fair complexion, slim, elfin, impish, loves fantasy, books. Last of the wallflowers looking for marriage. Younger sister of Lillian.
• Matthew Swift: American; from Boston, Massachusetts. Under 30, tall, strong, striking features, thick but closely clipped dark brown hair, intense blue eyes, wide sensual mouth, clean-shaven, self-confident, worked for Bowman for ten years. Bowman wants him to marry Daisy, thinking his ancestry is from an old, Boston family lineage.
• Thomas Bowman: Father of Daisy and Lillian. Stout, barrel-shaped man,bald, thick mustache, bullish in appearance and manner, father to five children including three placid sons; clever, shrewd and calculating with people, generous to those who pleased him. Wealthy business owner from America, having come to England so his two daughters could find husbands. Married to Mercedes.
• Mercedes Bowman: Mother of Daisy and Lillian. Thin, severely retained black hair, nervous energy, relentless, all sharp angles, always pushing to make a place in society for the Bowmans
• Lillian Westcliff: Now Lady Westcliff, Countess of Stony Crest Manor and about to have her first child. Older sister of Daisy Bowman. Fiesty, funny and often furious.
• Lord Marcus Marsden, Earl of Westcliff: Business partner with Simon Hunt, married to Lillian, powerful in society.
• Annabella Hunt: The first married of the Wallflower Club, she is now the mother of 10-month old Isabelle. Blue-eyed and lovely. Married to Simon.
• Simon Hunt: Entrepreneur. Black hair, large man, born a butcher's son; five or ten years older than Matthew, Annabella's husband. His interests include the railroads; Westcliff's closest friend, very successful in business.
• Evangeline (Evie) St. Vincent: Third of the Wallflowers to marry, she has red curly hair, is the wife of Lord St. Vincent. From an abusive family, she once had a terrible stammer but it has lessened quite a bit now she is married and has become more self-confident.
• Lord Sebastian St. Vincent: Owns a gaming establishment, a reformed "rake"; witty, good friend and business partner to Marcus, self-assured, sophisticated. Married to Evie.
• Men invited to Stony Crest for the hunt party and as possible husbands for Daisy: Mr. Hollingberry - pleasant-looking, in his 30s, round cheeks, a bit pudgy but attractive Mr. Mardling - athletic build, thick blond curls, green eyesMr. Alan Rickett - scholarly looking, spectacles, slightly rumpled coatLord Llandrindon - handsome, dark hair, medium height, from Thurso, in northern Scotland, owned 3 estates and thoroughbred horses.
• Some of the unmarried women invited: Lady Miranda Dowden, instigated parlor games; Cassandra Leighton, well-endowed, very interested in Matthew, giggled incessantly; Elspeth Higginson,
• Wendell Waring: From Boston, Massachusetts, distinguished bearing, thick silver hair, side whiskers, hard, light-colored eyes.
• Gypsy at May Day Festival: Gaudily dressed, wearing scarves and jewelry, very wrinkled brown face, black beady eyes, soft black hair.
• Merritt: Veteranarian
• Isabelle Hunt: Annabelle and Simon Hunt's daughter

Quotes edit see section history

• “" --- most lives are not distinguished by great achievements. They are measured by an infinite number of small ones. Each time you do a kindness for someone or bring a smile to his face, it gives your life meaning. Never doubt your value --- "”

  Lord Westcliff to Daisy Bowman discussing her father's comment about her.

• “It was symbolic of her future, this walk. She could only trudge forward with the knowledge that no matter how far or fast she went, she could not outdistance him.”

  No speaker - describing the walk Daisy and Matthew took when she wanted to ask him of her father's proposition.

• “"Never do an enemy a small injury." (Machiavelli)”

  Matthew Swift to Daisy during the lawn bowling.

• “"Not for all the hemp in China"”

  Daisy to Matthew, using a more accurate saying (China produced more hemp than tea)

• “"Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be." (Machiavelli)”

  Daisy to Matthew, also during the lawn bowling.

• “" --- no matter how a woman is attired, a gentleman can always detect the clues that betray her true status. A lady always has a soft, well-modulated voice whereas a shopgirl speaks with a strident tone and a vulgar accent."”

  Llandrindon to Mr. Mardling, discussing the poor being able to better themselves.

• “"I would have so loved to learn about the Vikings.” Lillian snorted. “Since when have you been interested in warlike pagans with silly-looking headgear?” Daisy looked up from her book again. “Are we talking about Grandmother again?””

  Mercedes Bowman, her daughters Lillian and Daisy

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• “most lives are not distinguished by great achievements. They are measured by an infinite number of small ones. Each time you do a kindness for someone or bring a smile to his face, it gives your life meaning. Never doubt your value, little friend. The world would be a dismal place without Daisy Bowman in it.”

  Highlighted by 56 Kindle customers

• A book had always been a door to another world…a world much more interesting and fantastical than reality. But she had finally discovered that life could be even more wonderful than a fantasy. And that love could fill the real world with magic.

  Highlighted by 25 Kindle customers

• “Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be,” she replied, and saw the line of Swift’s cheek tighten with a sudden grin as he recognized the Machiavelli quote.

  Highlighted by 21 Kindle customers

• Perhaps, in spite of all she had heard about the ideal of a perfect marriage, there was no such thing. Perhaps every marriage was a unique creation.

  Highlighted by 16 Kindle customers

• Hegelian theory…something always in the process of becoming something else, never attaining completion.

  Highlighted by 16 Kindle customers

• To put to rest any doubts you might have…I’m jealous of every man who comes within ten feet of you. I’m jealous of the clothes on your skin and the air you breathe. I’m jealous of every moment you spend out of my sight.”

  Highlighted by 15 Kindle customers

• “I’m not short. I’m…vertically disadvantaged.”

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• She was the most provoking, beguiling woman he had ever met. Thunderstorms and rainbows wrapped together in a convenient pocket-sized parcel.

  Highlighted by 13 Kindle customers

• “Miss Bowman, if I had enough pockets I could save the world.”

  Highlighted by 11 Kindle customers

• “The only harm I see,” Westcliff said quietly, “is in discouraging people who want to better themselves, out of fear that we will lose our perceived superiority.”

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Rutledge hotel suite: The London hotel suite where the Bowmans have lived for the two years they've been in England
• Marsden parlor: At the Westcliffs' town home, where Daisy visited her sister Lillian to discuss their father's ultimatum.
• Stony Cross Park, Hampshire, England: The country estate owned by the Earl of Westcliff; a 12-hour carriage ride from their town home but more restful and quiet. Lovely rooms, beautiful grounds; the room Daisy was given had once been Lord Westcliff's sister's room. Its most charming feature was the tiny attached cabinet room that had been brought from France and reassembled. It had originally come from a 17th century chateau and had been fitted with a chaise that was perfect for napping or reading.
• The batchelor's house at Stony Cross Park: A small residence set apart from the main house. A few of the male guests for the hunt week had taken advantage of its privacy and were now gone, but Matthew was staying there. It had rosewood paneling and heavy furniture. Jewel-colored velvet curtains with silk fringe trim covered the windows. Matthew's room had creamy lace at the window.
• Bristol, England: A business center, fast becoming of prime importance. Matthew had to travel there with Lord Westcliff on business.

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Wishing well: In all of these four books, the Wallflower Club visit a well in Hampshire. This was a spring-fed well , and according to local tradition, it was inhabited by a spirit who would grant your wish if you threw a pin into it. The only danger was in standing too close, for the well spirit might pull you down with him to live forever as his consort.In this book both Daisy and Matthew visit the well, both wishing for their true love. In Daisy's case, she threw a whole rack of pins, stating that she had no conditions, no requirements. She just wanted the right man for her - and said also that all the pins she threw in would be "credited toward the same wish".That same day, Matthew happened to be passing the well while Daisy was there. After she explained the well's fabled propensities he threw in a five dollar piece, using her instructions for the wish to come true, but when she asked what he'd wished for, he answered, "That's private" - as she'd done to him earlier.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by Devil in Winter, and followed by A Wallflower Christmas.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Lisa Kleypas (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Sexual content.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Romance › Authors, A-Z › ( K ) › Kleypas, Lisa
• Books › Romance › Historical

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Lisa Kleypas: Author's website

More Books Like This edit see section history

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history