28 Days Later

Well, I’m late today, but I’m here. I didn’t have time to post before work.

So, I’m reading this series of books, they are Edwardian Murder Mysteries by Marion Chesney. I am enjoying them greatly, but I just found a huge discrepancy that I am unable to ignore. I’ve found typos and wrong words plenty of times in books, but nothing like this.

Here is a passage from the second book, Hasty Death:

Harry walked forward and took Rose by the hand and he sank down on one knee. “Lady Rose,” he said huskily, “would you do me the very great honour of giving me your hand in marriage?”

“There’s no need to play act,” said Rose.

“Who knows when they’ll walk in on us.”

“Alright. yes, I do.”

Harry stood up and fished in his pocket and drew out a little box. He opened it to reveal a sapphire-and-diamond ring.

“oh, how beautiful,” said Rose, as he slid it on her finger. You should not have gone to so much trouble.”

And now, a passage from Sick of Shadows, the third book:

She looked down at the small engagement ring on her finger. She had bought it herself out of her pin money, Harry haven’t seemingly forgotten that he was expected to supply one.

And a little later…

He finally stopped and pulled a little jeweler’s box out of his pocket. “I should have bought you a ring before this. most remiss of me.”

Rose opened the box. A large and beautiful diamond set in white gold glittered up at her, throwing rainbow prisms of light across her astonished face.

It quite bugs me that an author could be that out of touch with her characters as to not remember something as significant as one character giving another an engagement ring.

Tell me authors, am I being harsh?