(For OBM, and any other fans) Georgette Heyer Appreciation Society

[wombling]

Thought it was a good idea to start this lw, so we stopped cluttering up the Austen Thread (thanks onebatmother, for the suggestion). But I have only just managed to get around to it, so is there anyone else out there who is keen?

What are your favourites, I love These Old Shades, Devils Cub, The Grand Sophy and Venetia. I also managed to discover a historical novel I didn't know wbout "The Great Roxhythe", unfortunately out of print. When googling, I also managed to find www.georgetteheyer.com, which is a mine of info I didn't know about, esp about her modern novels.

• wow everyone, I am in awe of you all. A masterly plot summary Mme Volatile, and wonderful mastery of the genre from all of you, I am struggling to keep up!

My very dear Madame Volatile
I fear Lady Delilah wishes are immaterial. If the Duke wishes her to receive us, she shall do so. Their intimate friendship goes back many years, and I am sure she will quickly find herself recovered from the sudden attack of Jealousy that the news of our marriage seems to have brought on.
I do hope Miss Ghosty and Miss Slayerette will grace our house party at Righteous Castle next weekend. There will be many eligible gentlemen present, and even young ladies with little in the way of beauty and fortune to recommend them are sure to draw in an admirer or two. They may no longer be in the first flush of youth, but they are not quite ape-leaders yet and His Grace and I will certainly make a push to get them off. We can't all have the luck to marry a Duke at barely seventeen of course, but 27 is not so very old to be thinking of marriage. I have observed that many men are not so choosy when they are looking about for their second wife.
We shall set out for Leicestershire tomorrow. My dear Duke wishes to make me know to the tenants and servants on the estate - oh and to my new Mama-in-law of course - I do so long to make her acquaintance. Dearest Dukey says that she can't help but like me, I am sure he is right.
I look forward to receiving you as my guest at Righteous Castle on Saturday sennight.
Until then I am as ever
Rosa Duchess of Upright

damn those excessive excessives!

Madame Volatile, I am desolate at having so inconvenienced you last night with my sudden spasm! But I trust you slept tolerably well? My own bed, I confess, was shocking hard! Will you hazard some chocolate, some sirloin? Some small-beer? No? Well, I myself am much restored and will now complete my dreadful history.

Having sacrificed my virtue to relieve Mr Bat of his considerable embarrassments, I became in short, the lighto'love of Lord Ghosty. You can but imagine, Madame, how my soul cried out in anguish! (though my heart found solace, I confess, in straw-coloured satin and coquelicot ribbons.)

But within the Twelvemonth, my ruin was compleat. I found myself in a condition somewhat ..delicate, and that roue Lord Ghosty's conduct was everything of the most damnable! He cut me off in the instant with a nought but a Small Annuity. The babe - a girl - was sent to the country - Mr Bat could not tolerate the presence of my shameful bye-blow.

Then, some 16 years after the shocking events which I relate to you, my dear Saloupette, I chanced to be riding in the Park with ... well, with a very particular friend - when my sight was arrested by a young lady, a diamond of the first water - a vision in
a green bonnet with an upstanding poke,and several ostrich plumes admirably framing her vivacious face. Pansy-eyes with a dark fringe of lashes peeped out from beneath her short veil. It was, as you must have already guessed, Miss Slayerette.

And an instant, my dear Madame, I recognized..

My Daughter!

My dear Mrs Bat (Saloupette, how could you ) and huzzah!! for sheer brilliance

I apologise most profusely for having been Silenced momentarily by your disclosures !! This means, does it not, that Miss Slayerette is Miss Ghosty's sister were it not for the fact that Miss Ghosty is in fact the daughter of Lord Vapid? You see the problem, I am sure, ma cherie?? Perhaps we should approach the gels - in the kindest possible fashion, of course, and explain their dilemma vis-a-vis Polite Society?? Miss Ghosty's position as an heiress we could perhaps explain away, but frankly speaking, Euphonia, (and I am sure you will forgive frankness at this crucial Moment?) Miss Slayerette has not A Penny To Her Name and stands no prospect of attracting even Captain Sparrow with his £500 a year and Prospects, let alone Lord Quattrocento and his Great Expectations, wee she to Be Cruelly Exposed?

La, 'tis a complicated World we live in, to be sure

Indeed, Madame, it is! And its complexity can only be increased by a compromising note, the possession of which by that trollope (you will excuse my french?) Lady Haughty ensures that my dear girl will shortly, indeed, be Cruelly Exposed!

Dearest Euphonia, I hesitate to correct one as versed in Correct usage as your (now) are, but I believe you must mean her Grace, the Duchess of Haughty? Tis true that there is no Love Lost between Her Grace and Miss Slayette, but perhaps these billets-doux from His Grace may help? (slides Mrs Bat a small number of vellum sheets, folded with a ribbon and inexpertly creased): 'tis true his Grace kept my replies, for safety's sake, but they will help you understand what Manner of Man he is ! My girls required the tenderest Care to recover...perhaps the risk of Exposure by Another might suffice to silence Her Grace?

Another thoght Madame! and then I must repair to my Chamber to apply a little Denmark Water to my sadly tired skin:

Are we not both bidden to the nuptial Ball at Castle Haughty this Saturday to come? Perhaps when we are both installed with our maids in close proximity to all Interested Parties we may yet achieve a happy outcome for us all????

I remian, as ever, your Dearest and most trustworthy Confidante,

Mme Sal Volatile

My dear Madame, You are too kind! and yes, 'tis true, this Saturday's Entertainment may give us opportunity to resolve matters in our favour.

But Madame, I must confess, my Plan is otherwise. Her Grace has vexed me immeasurably, and i will not rest until I see her cut down a peg. In truth, I cannot stand to see the hussy thus hoist above us all - it is shocking unjust, I declare, and pricks me intolerably!

You must know that Miss Ghosty's brother Lord Percival is still abroad, flying from the Bow Street Runners? Well, I have today received a scribbled note from him - he writes from Calais, in daily anticipation of apprehension and arrest!

He has heard of Her Grace's Sudden Elevation - and he is wild with Choler! He therefore begs me to understand that he has Private Knowledge of Certain Events in Miss Rosa's Past, which he intends to use as barter when the Runners overtake him, as they must. Knowledge which will, indubitably, see Miss Rosa (as was) Cast Off by His Grace!

And, My Dear Madame, he sends his fondest regards, and wishes to be remembered to...

Miss Slayerette!...

But La! What to wear! My half dress of orange sarsnet is sorely tired. Pearls, of course are just the thing for Miss Ghosty but perhaps the rubies would become me best

of course tis the fashion to be fair but surely Miss Ghosty's dusky curls could be dressed to great advantage

My deares friends
I am positively palpating with excitement at the prospect of welcoming you all to my nuptial Ball at Righteous Castle on Saturday. I have spent days closeted with my Mantua-maker, and the resulting gown is truly Spectacular. The costliest materials and trimmings have been purchased as my dear Duke said that I must spare No Expense. I have had the Upright family Diamonds reset for the occasion, they are very numerous and of the First Water but the Settings were Shockingly outmoded so I have ordered Rundell and Bridge to fashion a magnificent Parure and a Tiara for me to wear.
My new Mama-in-Law was a trifle hipped when I announced my Intention to remake the jewels but as I pointed out to her, I am the Duchess of Upright now, and she is merely the Dowager, so she has nothing to say to it.
We are refurbishing the Dower House for her (a needless expense in my view as it would have done perfectly well as it was, but my dear Duke is so attentive to his Mama) and we hope she may see fit to move in as soon as it is ready. She is already grumbling that she did not wish to relinquish the Great Bedchamber, but the Duchesses of Upright have always slept in that room and the Yellow Chamber is very pretty, and warmer too, on account of its much smaller size.
I must fly now as darling Upright is in need of the special attentions which only I know how to give him. Indeed, he never ceases to marvel at his luck in finding such a conformable and complaisant wife and one who so perfectly understand his little Peculiarities, shall we say. I think you will understand me perfectly Mrs Bat. Dear Upright, he confided to me only yesterday that there was nothing in the world that could ever contrive to give him a disgust of me or lessen the sacred Bond between us.
I look forward to receiving you all on Saturday. Truly it will be the most wonderful occasion.
Until then, I am
Rosa, Duchess of Upright

oh brava!

"'Until then, I am Rosa, Duchess of Upright'? Yes, my Dear, Until then - and if the play goes my way, not a moment longer!"

and

and complaisant and give him a disgust of me.. sorry one-handed..

My Dearest Mrs Bat!
Please forgive this note written in Haste but 'tis better than to write in haste than to repent at Leisure, as the saying is.... I leave tomorrow for Leicestershire to rack for a night or two at the Golden Cochon, but a few miles outside the village of Rightous-come-Early so that I can Prepare myself for the Nuptial Feast

Can I perhaps persuade you to join me at this little hostelry? 'tis but a short way off the main post-road, and although my dear, dear Gaston (an emigre, bien sur, but a marvellous cook and a real magician with an old boiler) is well-versed in the ways of the Quality and keeps a wonderful wine-cellar, I know that he will see to it that we have the privacy we so desire in this Tumultuous Day and Age so that we may Converse freely about those we Most Care about?

My spies at Calais tell me that Sir Percival Ghosty is like to attend the Ball disguised as a Lady - the code for her will be B1977 - and that he is Determin'd to clear his name so cruelly blackn'd by her Grace and win the fair Miss Slayerette - 'tho how he may achieve it with a price on his head I Know Not!!

Write soon, my Dearest Euphonia, and I will reserve chambers.

In haste
Saloupette De La Volatile

dear dear even.....

My Dear Madame!

I declare, your plan is monstrous diverting! Reserve immediately, if you will, chambers for me and my retinue (abigail, footman, coachman)

I anticipate a delightful tete a tete with you, my dear Saloupette.

Your fondest

Euphonia

Can it possibly be true that Sir Percy will appear?