Return to Georgette Heyer

It's been a few years since I discovered the wonderful Regency world of Georgette Heyer. I have decided to reread some of my old favorites and blog about them in depth. 

Lady of Quality 

Annis Wynchwood left her brother's home at the age of six and twenty to set up her own establishment in Bath because she and her brother Geoffrey can not rub on together while they live under the same roof. Annis has a comfortable home in Bath with her garrulous, indigent relative as chaperone. Annis enjoys her life but she is a bit bored. On the way home from visiting her brother and his family, Annis comes across a broken down carriage and a young lady and young gentleman in distress. Annis offers her assistance to the pair and changes her world forever. The young lady, Lucilla, is running away from an unwanted marriage with her childhood best friend Ninian. Ninian wants the marriage as much as Lucilla but his sense of honor compels him to keep her from getting into trouble. Annis befriends the pair and takes young Lucilla under her wing. Lucilla's uncle Oliver Carleton, the rudest man in London, arrives in Bath and barges his way into Annis's well-ordered life. The pair are forever at odds yet they seem to share the same sense of humor and enjoy trading witty barbs. Soon Annis has more excitement than she every thought possible when her brother, fearing for her virtue, sends his wife and children to stay. Annis has her hands full playing hostess and keeping Druscilla out of trouble but she doesn't need help. Indeed Mr. Carleton expresses little interest in his niece. Why then does Mr. Carleton insist on staying in Bath? 

This book is tied for my #2 favorite Heyer novel. I love the independent, older heroine who thinks she knows everything until she matches wits with a notorious rake! The dialogue between Annis and Oliver is quite witty and made me smile. They are an evenly matched pair. The secondary characters provide much of the screwball comedy antics Heyer is known for.  I chuckled out loud in many places and smiled at the end. I love comedy of manners plots and no one did it better than Heyer. I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first time, even if it is basically a copy of her earlier book Black Sheep. I loved Black Sheep. It was great so why mess with success?