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vintageromancereader
A gentleman was strolling down a side street in Paris, on his way back from the house of one Madame de Verchoureux. He walked mincingly, for the red heels of his shoes were very high. A long purple cloak, rose-lined, hung from his shoulders and was allowed to fall carelessly back from his dress, revealing a full-skirted coat of purple satin, heavily laced with gold; a waistcoat of flowered silk; faultless small clothes; and a lavish sprinkling of jewels on his cravat and breast...
The gentleman in question is Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, known by friends and enemies alike as Satanasl. On this particular evening, the dangerous rake crosses paths with Léon, a red-headed youth of low birth who is fleeing a certain beating at his brutal brother's hands. On a whim, Avon buys the boy and makes him his page. It soon becomes clear, however, that Léon is not what he seems, and that Avon has an ulterior motive for bringing him into his household.
Original Publisher: Heinemann
Original Year of Publication: 1926 [2008 reprint]
Page Count: 334
A classic of the genre, and one that should be read by all romance readers, if only to appreciate the sheer number of tropes that it cultivated and spawned. There's a little bit of everything: mistaken identity, girls in boys' clothing, May/December romance, cold/austere older hero, impish/charming heroine, kidnapping, rogue villains with dark secrets, and a delicious, twisty revenge plot that plays out in magnificent fashion. This book is worth reading for that scene alone, IMO.
I'm not much for the Georgian setting or the major tropes therein, but just as with The Convenient Marriage, the story transcends the time period with classic, timeless characterization and beautiful flow of words. It's easy to get swept up into Ms. Heyer's writing and the world she creates. This book brought a smile to my face during a particularly trying day, which is no small feat. It truly is escapism at its best!
Even if it doesn't sound like your thing, give this one a try. You'll either love it or hate it, but you certainly won't walk away bored!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
