A quintessential Heyer. A charming, sweet period romance.
Ms Heyer showed us that a hero and heroine could be sensible, quietish and pleasantly good looking and still be the kind of hero and heroine that most readers would thrill to -- heroes and heroines didn't always have to be devastatingly good looking or rakish.
Heyer is a good writer of the Romance genre. She has great characters.
This is one of my all-time favorite historical novels, and I was overdue for a reread. What could be more fun than a pair of escaped Jacobites hiding in plain sight in London? Not just there, but making a splash in Society, with no one suspecting that the charming Miss Kate Merriot is actually Robin Lacey and her sober brother is his sister Prudence?
The story opens with a bang as "Peter" and "Kate" rescue a young lady from an ill-advised elopement. Their quick thinking was impressive, and I laughed out loud at the confusion they rained down on the head of the frustrated suitor. I loved seeing Robin's immediate protectiveness toward young Letty. It isn't long before another rescuer appears in the form of Sir Anthony Fanshawe, a family friend. Sir Anthony is a large man with a calm disposition, and it was fun to see his reactions to the Merriots and Letty.
I loved watching the Merriots slip effortlessly in London society. Prudence, as Peter, becomes a popular young buck. He makes friends with others his age and participates in the usual activities of such young men. He has also drawn the attention of Sir Anthony, who feels responsible for his well-being. Robin and Prue initially believe that Tony is too "sleepy" to suspect the truth about them. But the more time Prue spends in his company, the more she suspects he's sharper than they thought. I laughed every time Robin referred to him as the "mountain" or "mammoth," suspecting he was in for quite a surprise. There are some great scenes with Prue and Tony as she struggles to maintain the deception. I loved watching their relationship develop as Tony is drawn into their lives.
Meanwhile, as Kate, Robin befriends young Letty, giving her a more mature companion who will hopefully keep her out of trouble. Letty is naïve and irrepressible in her desire for adventure, and it is all Robin can do to try to redirect her antics. But her unlamented suitor hasn't given up on trying to gain her inheritance. It's left to Robin to rescue her again, this time in a most dramatic fashion. However, there are unintended consequences that create problems for Robin and Prudence.
The Merriots' arrival in London was done at their father's direction, whom they call "the old gentleman." They have traveled Europe with him as he moves from one scheme to another. About halfway through the book, he arrives in London claiming to be Viscount Barham, the long-lost brother to the previous viscount. This is unwelcome news to the distant relative who currently holds the title. Robert Tremaine is flamboyant, charming, and gregarious and is hilarious in his antics as the claimant. He delights in his role as a puppet master, pulling the strings of those around him. Prue and Robin have no idea if he really is the viscount or if it is another one of his scams, and can only watch and wait.
The ending is a delightful romp of rescues and revelations, disappearances and reappearances, and a pair of happy-ever-afters. I would love to see this as a movie.
Good solid plot and story. I could not help liking the father and had to reread the first chapter after I figured out how it was being told...lol... loved the story. I could still put it down though and did not feel like I had to finish it in one setting. Hence, the 3.5 stars...
Brother and sister trying to evade the authorities (they're Jacobitea) by switching identities and genders, but they get caught up in the beau monde by coming to the rescue of an eloping heiress with second thoughts. Always a tom-boy, I loved the heroine's strength and non-conformism. The hero is placid and intelligent with surprising depths of humor. As usual, her secondary characters are brilliant, with the heroine's father stealing the show.
This was a fast moving attention holding story. A good read!
