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 XXIV: MY LORD RIDES TO FRUSTRATE HIS GRACE
Bored and hungry, Jack takes his leisure at the O’Hara’s house, with Miles and Molly (hey, isn’t that a sitcom?) out visiting friends. He is not leisurely for long, however, as a very agitated Mr. Beauleigh soon arrives to inform him that Diana has disappeared, her horse returning home with a note telling him that she has been spirited away by the very same Mr. Everard whose abduction attempt Jack had previously thwarted. Learning that Everard is, in fact, the Duke of Andover, Mr. Beauleigh is understandably overcome, and visions of this brilliant match dance happily in his head until Jack points out that the Duke of Andover and the infamous Devil Belmanoir are one and the same.
Tracy’s reputation is dark indeed (and deservedly so, as we know now), for no sooner does he learn of that than Beauleigh begs Jack to help rescue poor Diana again – as though he need be asked. He orders Jenny saddled, has Miles’s carriage brought round for his would-be father-in-law, and gallops hell for leather to Andover Court, where he is sure Tracy will have taken his captive.
Much follows about the journey, about Jenny the Wonder Horse as she covers the miles swiftly and with awesome grace and dexterity (but then, ha! She stumbles; not such a Wonder Horse after all, it seems) and about Jack’s love of, and fear for, his beloved. And then…
New chapters of Reading Heyer: The Black Moth will be posted here at Heyer Society each Sunday. Or buy it here.
