(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.

[ladywombling]

Oh Bravo ladies, you are all just too clever for me to keep up. I await the next instalment with bated breath.

Will ponder awhile, and attempt a contribution to the narrative later.

[RosaLuxOnTheBrightSideOfLife]

Rosa, Duchess of Upright is standing at the top of the magnificent Italian marble staircase that dominates the enormous entrance hall of Righteous Castle, a structure whose Tudor origins have been obscured by a plethora of wings added by later Dukes. The Fifth Duke, grandfather of the present incumbent, was inspired by his sojourns in Italy during his Grand Tour, to add this particular -excrescence- magnificent touch to the grandeur that now comprises the noble seat of the Upright family.
She looks down the staircase, crowded with ladies and gentlemen of the first consequence all vying to pay their respects to the new, and exceptionally lovely, mistress of Upright castle, and allows herself a small smile of satisfaction.
But wait, who is that she sees ascending the marble steps in some haste...

[onebatmother]

(it is not Mrs Batmother, whose computer barouche is broken and as a consequence may be some time, though she sends her profound apologies and trusts the entertainment will be delightful)

[slayerette]

I lost the thread - am most vexed by 'Threads You're On' which is rubbish! - but wanted to say I'm still here! Need to find a moment to catch up with all that I've missed while I've been staying with Miss Ghosty - hope I can follow our most Convoluted Plot!

[ladywombling]

oh my dears where have you all disappeared to?

[MrsBadger]

[removes nose from 'False Colours']
still here...

[RosaLuxOnTheBrightSideOfLife]

Well, come on then somebody. Who WAS it I saw ascending those dratted stairs. (In some haste.)
Was it
a) Mrs Bat, come to retrieve her purloined letters.

b) Sir Percy, come to destroy my marriage.

c) Miss Slayerett, come in search of Sir Percy

or

d) A Mysterious Stranger come to deliver a new plot twist (in case you don't get it, this is an open invitation for new people to join the thread)

Come on guys, get moving.

[onebatmother]

My dears. Let us think. Let us also attempt to attract the attention of our friends. Must to bed.

[SalVolatile]

My dear Mrs Bat

so good to see you newly returned to Town. I have but today risen from my bed after Spasms so severe I felt I would grace these rooms no more: and now, come and sit beside me and Tell All you now of that appalling business at Righteous Castle? Can it be true that the Duchess was already married to Another? And who was it waved the Papers in her painted face? I hear that her Fall from the top of the Grand Staircase was spectacular if a trifle inelegant?

Now, my dear Euphonia, you must also meet Lady Wombling's protegee - a charming girl to be sure, if somewhat over tall, perhaps - from a charming Parisien family, I believe. Has Miss Slayette returned to town with you, or is she still pursuing Redcoats in the North?

[RosaLuxOnTheBrightSideOfLife]

Brava, Madam Volatile.

[talilac]

Greetings All

Thank you to dear Mrs Luxembourg for informing me of this delightful soiree.

It seems that the Ton are obviously elsewhere currently - out on our country estates perhaps?

Maybe I could entice you to join me here for some Ratafia and Lemonade?

[SalVolatile]

Mr dear, dear Lady Talilac, have we been introduced? Pray, only a little ratafia for me, if you will. I am a Martyr to Spasms since the appalling business with Sir Percival Ghosty....,,(sits down comfortably, arranges her satin skirts and looks around for her friends)

[SalVolatile]

In fact, by dear Lady Talilac, it seems you may be attempting to wheedle your way back into Polite Society Incognito now that Haughty has barred his Ducal Door to you, so to speak . Pray tell, how come you here? (Looks round frantically for Mrs Bat to help).....

[onebatmother]

Madame Volatile! It is I, your confidante and admirer, Mrs Bat. If I could prevail upon you to allow me a day's grace to re-acquaint myself with last winter's scandalous events ... then I will return...>

[crumpet]

[ladywombling]

La Madame Volatile, pray do forgive the interuption, I have not had the pleasure of your companion's acquaintance, do, please introduce us.

[scaryteacher]

The vinegar reducing diet is in Venetia when she goes to stay with her aunt in London, after her brother Conway has sent his new wife and mother-in-law to stay at Undershaw, and to remove her from Damerel's vicinity. The vinegar diet is mentioned when her aunt is wincing whilst sipping it with her meal.

I think there is also a mention of it in Regency Buck?

[SalVolatile]

Ah, my dear Lady Wombling - I vow 'tis monstrous unjust of you to withold wour Presence from us for so long!

May I Introduce you to .....,,drumroll.... La Comtesse De Talilac, but newly arrived from France, with all the latest on-dits , so I believe! Perhaps you are acquainted with Sir Percival Ghosty, late of these shores, my dear Lady Talilac?

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

Found it at last. Now does anyone fancy getting back into powder and patch?

[SalVolatile]

My dear Lady Glencora, how wonderful to see you looking so well! I vow 'tis an age since we last conversed! Tis little more than a twelvemonth since I left these shores for Paris, to recuperate from the shock of Rosa's scandalous conduct, Mrs Bat's Tragic Decline into Drink, and my own good fortune in being named Lord Vapid's sole heir (after a rather nasty little struggle with his nephew(titters archly) but no more of that! I am, as you can see, tres tres comfortable....

Anyone seen onebatmother?

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

Madam Volatile! What an age it has been! Indeed I am positively overcome with emotion at the news of your good fortune. I trust Miss Ghosty was not left utterly destitute when the will in your favour was so fortuitiously discovered. It must have been a great suprise indeed.
But I do not know if you are as yet aware of the scandalous on-dit that is sweeping the town. You may have heard, that the Duchess of Upright, having narrowly survived that shocking scandal last year, is in an interesting condition and means to present her husband with an heir to the Dukedom. Well, my dear, a rumour has swept the clubs, that the putative heir has in fact been sired by none other than the Duke's own coachman. A villainous looking fellow, with coal black eyes and a look of the devil himself about him.
His Grace, being as innocent as a babe unborn, knows nothing of the matter as yet.

[SalVolatile]

London seems sadly thin of company at the moment, does it not, my Dear Lady Glencora? Perhaps we should try to bestir those social dames whose merry chatter made these Rooms buzz, before London dies of ennui! Now, you must know that the Duchess of Upright's supposed condition is nothing but idle speculation, since she has grown so stout through her addiction to cake that it takes two footmen to lace her stays! At least, I am told they lace her stays..... hmmmm, but no matter, since I have it on the Highest Authority that the Duchess cannot conceive, no matter how many private visits she has paid to a certain accoucher in Portland Place! Perhaps the Dukes's Dear Mama has begun to concern herself about the lack of an Heir?

La, but to stand here gossiping! Where are the others, pray?

[FairyCCTaleEnding]

Can I join in? I have all the original GH books that my grandmother bought as they came out. She never did any housework, just sat reading them all day ...

Friday's Child and The Grand Sophy my favourites. Really, really wanted Hero as a name for DD but (now ex) DH vetoed, even as a middle name. Bah.

Ooh, am excited now. Have to go out so can't read all the thread, but am looking forward to returning later.

[FairyCCTaleEnding]

PS Where's the Jane Austen thread, please?

Realising I've been wasting an awful lot of time on silly threads about cake baking and general housekeeping nonsense when I could have been indulging with my favourite writers ...

[theyoungvisiter]

By FairyCCTaleEnding on Sat 14-Mar-09 14:29:32
Can I join in? I have all the original GH books that my grandmother bought as they came out.

Swoon

That is SO unfair!! Lucky you...