In addition to her regency romances, Heyer wrote some stories set in the Georgian era. The wealthy Earl of Rule is engaged to marry a daughter of the Winwoods, a family of impeccable lineage and no money. She is in love with a poor soldier but forbidden to marry him. Youngest sister Horatia Winwood manipulates matters so that her sister can marry her solider lover, and Horatia marries the earl. She tells him it can hardly make a difference, since she is just as much a Winwood as her sister. He intrigued and amused agrees. They marry, and Horatia is a great success in their social world. But things don't go well. The Earl has or had a mistress. Although hers is a marriage of convenience and not love, and Horatia promised the earl she would not interfere with his pleasures, Horatia can't help feeling a jealousy. At the same time, Horatia is being courted by a rival of the Earl's with a long time grudge against him. This rival, Letherbridge, plans to seduce Horatia to humiliate the Earl. The Earl warns Horatia about being in Letherbridge's company too often. He subtly lets her know that he is not going to be a complaisant husband while his wife takes lovers. Horatia is defiant and does not listen. Will Letherbridge get his way? Will Horatia ruin the Earl's honor and her own reputation? Will the couple acknowledge that their marriage has grown beyond one for convenience only? A very amusing book with sparkling dialogue and romance.
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The review of this Book prepared by Fenella
