In which we serialize Society Patroness Rachel Hyland’s first book in her Reading Heyer series, Reading Heyer: The Black Moth. Called “delicious” by Heyer expert Jennifer Kloester, it is a reading guide, critique and loving homage all in one. But mostly, it’s just a lot of fun. We hope you enjoy. Check back every Sunday for another installment, or buy the book here.
CHAPTER XX: HIS GRACE OF ANDOVER TAKES A HAND IN THE GAME
If ever you were to feel sympathy for the simpering simpleton that is Lady Lavinia Carstares, née Belmanoir, now is that time. As we’ve previously seen, she is certainly no prize, all self-interest and self-congratulation and self, self, self. But, oh, imagine you are Lavinia! Imagine you have realized that you have perhaps gone a little overboard with your public affections to a man not your husband. Imagine that you then broach the subject with him, suggesting he needs to be a little more circumspect in his adoration. To then not only have said man assail you with uninvited caresses that bring you to tears, but also then have your eldest brother happen upon the scene and accuse you of all kinds of wanton conduct is, one must concede, very unfair.
Then the chapter title-namechecked Grace of Andover, after terrifying his sister with largely unspoken threats of the dire consequences to her should she consider leaving Dicky – who is, after all, a source of much-needed wealth to His Grace – and thereby giving us one and all the heebie jeebies (his eyes “held hers inexorably, scorchingly.” Shudder.), heads on home, and after a few encounters with yet more notables of the day – oh, hello Mr. Walpole! – manages to make it back to his St. James Square mansion, from which he sends one of his employees into the wilds of Sussex with what can only be deemed a Cunning Plan. He sets one of his grooms, Harper by name, with the task of insinuating himself into the Beauleigh household at Littledean, there to spy upon its inhabitants and to await further instructions. (Which will, doubtless, include the kidnapping of the daughter of the house in the not too distant future.)
Um. Nice work if you can get it?
THOUGHTS
I cannot believe that in the space of one mere chapter, I have come to discover in myself at least a particle of sympathy for the dread Lady Lavinia. She aroused my definite compassion, not only due to her forcible and thorough-going kissing at the hands of the cur Lovelace (a sample of their fraught discussion: “You never loved Carstares—”/“I did! I do!”/“You may think so, but I know better.” What a jerk!), but also due to this horrible little family scene, coming just after Tracy has demanded abject obedience of his sister and terrified her into submitting with nothing more than the awful force of his forbidding gaze:
The tears brimmed over, and she caught his handkerchief from him, dabbing at her eyes with one heavily-laced corner.
“You do love me, Tracy?”
“In the recesses of my mind I believe I cherish some affection for you,” he replied coolly, rescuing his handkerchief. “I used to class you with your deplorable brothers, but I think perhaps I was wrong.”
At least Lavinia then has the wherewithal to riposte:
“Tracy, how can you be so disagreeable? Lud! but I pity Diana an she marries you!”
I’m pretty sure I would have been threatening to tell on him or something at that point. Certainly, he would have been off my Christmas card list.
By the way, this may be the first time I have found myself in complete agreement with Lavinia. I, too, would pity Diana if she were to wed this Devil, even if she would, as he then claims – with a blush, if you will believe it – “have all that her heart could desire.” Well, sure. As long as all her heart could desire was to be kidnapped, raped and forced into marrying her attacker. I mean, how is that fun?
New chapters of Reading Heyer: The Black Moth will be posted here at Heyer Society each Sunday. Or buy it here.
