(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.

Oh my jeezum 'reticule'!

then surreptitiously passes slayerette a note advising her (from A Friend) that 'I do declare' might be a little too.. Margaret Mitchell.

Of course it is! I knew it wasn't quite right but couldn't work out why.

I saw a bit of Gone With the Wind over Christmas - Rhett Butler looked so old! I felt quite put out by how unheroic he looked.

'I declare' is fine tho, I think?

ogles slayerette with her very smart reticule

I vow and declare?

Could well be, Rosa.

I loved These Old Shades when I was 9 and I still love it.

Hold your head up high fgs Quattrocento! You are amongst friends here!

It is the best one Quattro. I love my DH very, very much, but he will never quite fill the pointed satin shoes of the Duke of Avon.

Ah, bah.

Shall leave shame behind then

bah!

"the pointed mauve, buckled, heeled satin shoes..." surely Rosa?

Goodnight all. Another happy day.

the pointed mauve, diamond encrusted-buckled, heeled satin shoes I suspect OBM.
But I am going to bed with The Talisman Ring now. So I believe I must say goodnight.

I used to day dream for hours over GH ... imagining what my real family would be like if we went back in time by 170 odd years.
What was your GH persona when you were younger?
I am not very good at the language but you will get the picture:
My father was the second son of an impoverished earl and as such didn't have much of an inheritance (thank the Lord for my mother's modest jointure). My eldest brother was a sad rake and fortune hunter who was doing his best to ruin the reputation of our family's good name and my younger brother was bent on a career in the Army fighting against those demmed French and was sure to break my mother's heart with his premature demise. Due to the straitened circumstances of our family my Dear Papa could only afford one season each for my sister and me but my sister had sorely disappointed my Dear Mama by refusing a Good Match and marrying a young clergyman For Love. To my mother's horror my sister went on to produce 4 brats in as many years.
So at 17, Miss M- Ghosty, neither a beauty, nor indeed an antidote, had the hopes of the whole family upon her young shoulders.
She, however, was not prepared to be the second wife of a portly, yet rich Baronet and had firmly decided to either marry For Love or forever remain a spinster, looking after her parents in their dotage ...

ha
my family would not have featured in any georgette heyer, as they are too middle class and she just did not do the middle classes.

No my family are middle class too nighty night ... this was my day dream of what my family would have been ....
Basically I am the youngest daughter and have a sister and 2 brothers but that is where the simlarity ends ... my grandad was NOT an earl .... LOL

Ooh - I go to bed and miss out on ghosty's sad rake of a brother?

Well, I met him one dusk, ghosty, whilst strolling in Vauxhall Gardens, having managed to slip away from my strict chaperone. I was quite overcome by his rakish air and dashing cravat

and by how charmingly he procured me a glass of lemonade. I am sure he had no idea that I am Miss Slayerette with fifty thousand pounds; he seemed enchanted by my brunette curls and sparkling wit...

Slayerette!!! No! You must not! I beg of you! Did you not hear of the shocking scandal involving the Poor Miss Devonport? The poor girl has been sent to Italy to live with her maiden aunt, her prospects in tatters and her mother near dead of a broken heart!
She was lucky her father intercepted them before Gretna Green! Believe nothing my brother tells you, he would Ruin you!
Oh, the shame to be related to such a man! My poor poor Mama!

I will not believe it! The dashing Ghosty

besmirch a young lady's honour? There may have been dalliances but I cannot believe that he would trifle with a young lady barely out of the schoolroom. Why, Miss Devonport was not yet out when she had to attend the bedside of her sick aunt, and Ghosty swore to me that the story of the flight to Gretna Green is pure fiction. He has promised me that he intends to be at Lady Jevington's ball next week and has already sought my hand for the first dance. And I have promised it to him!

La! Girls, what is this nonsense? Are you comparing beaux again? Lor, when I was a young girl, Mr Brummel was the only gentleman to distract us!

Oh! Miss G, pray tell, how is your dashing brother Percy? What a hit he made with the ladies last week at Vauxhall! You mark my words, he will be wed before Michaelmas, and to a young lady of great fortune I am certain!

That reminds me, girls, I have been called away to interview a new secretary for Mr Bat - so am not strictly able to fulfill the chaperoning duties with which I was so flattering charged by Lady Wombling.
I am certain I may trust you in the house and grounds, mayn't I? Have fun, girls! Remember, a gentleman's heart was never yet won by a faint-heart! I shall be popping back by and by!

I know Mrs Bat is vastly generous to have us visiting, ghosty, but I do find her references to beaux shockingly vulgar. And those feathers she has trimmed her hat with...

I shall be back directly, ghosty. I intend to visit the lending library and am looking out silk stockings to go with the dress I will be wearing to Lady Jevington's ball next week!