The Making of a Marchioness, Part I and II by Frances Hodgson Burnett

But it doesn't go on long and is very captivating. Things get quite crazy from this point on in the 'Lifetime' movie of the week vein. Alec will inherit the estate if Walderhurst does not produce an heir and thus is not to be trusted, but Emily is lonely and wants to believe. Alone, pregnant, and living in a somewhat empty mansion 10 miles from the nearest village she is overjoyed when Walderhurst's cousin and his wife come to visit.

But then, Walderhurst goes on a mission to India. Thankfully, the relationship unfolds in a tender and pleasing way and they come to share a steady mature love that I was rooting for. what choice do you have? Emily accepts and prepares herself for a loveless marriage and her 'duty'. His proposal is as romantic as nails with him basically saying. Walderhurst, follows Emily home and asks her to marry him. While doing a favor for Walderhurst and moving a particularly annoying potential bride away from him at dinner, Emily is fired by Lady Maria. Emily knows Lady Maria's nephew Lord James Walderhurst who is, older (50s) and looking for a wife. Emily Fox Seaton is poor and works for the very haughty Lady Maria. The first half is a wonderful romance followed up by rather a bizarre, if not particularly scary, horror type yarn. I admit this movie is a bit different than most. I was also surprised by the negative reviews. Partly because it feels like there should be more of the story. I am going to read the book, and I'm sure the movie will wet other people's appetites as well.

The other characters are sufficiently creepy, helped along by the equally creepy music. The main character, Emily, is played by Lydia Wilson, and she shows the required amount of gentle intelligence and slight naiveté that is required for the story. This is somewhat Gothic in feel, and centers around one woman, that has the character list that could be the length of one of my old school headmistresses' speeches (she was known for speaking for hours).

This is a TV movie, that is a long series. While both have beautiful pictures, excellent costumes, and happen when women still wore long skirts, the similarities stop there. I have seen it compared to ITV's other period piece, Downton Abbey, but the comparison is completely wrong. The beginning does start off at a good pace, but then suddenly everything seems to happen in a short space of time. I don't know the original book, but maybe a two-part treatment would have been better. It did start out as a love story, and just when I was settled to watching another period romance (I don't like romance), it suddenly became something different. I'm glad for that, because it surprised me. Before watching, I had no knowledge of the story, just that it was a period piece. A lot of reviews say this is bad, but I didn't think so.

The Making of a Marchioness, Part I and II by Frances Hodgson Burnett