My third and final post for today described another delicious novel by Georgette Heyer named False Colours. I’ve been on quite the Heyer kick lately, and I’m thinking about ordering more of her books from the library for summer reading. When Christopher (Kit) Fancot returns to England unexpectedly from Vienna, he finds that his twin Lord Evelyn Denham has mysteriously disappeared. To make matters worse, Evelyn is supposed to meet his prospective bride’s grandmother the next day at a dinner party. If he doesn’t show, she will undoubtedly take it as an unforgivable slight and quash the betrothal (thus injuring Evelyn’s chances of making a respectable match and gaining control of his own fortune).
Kit’s mother, a feather-brained, prodigal spender, convinces Kit to take his twin’s place arguing that it will only be for one night. Kit, masquerading as Evelyn, goes to the dinner party and meets Cressida (Cressy), his brother’s intended. She is a sensible girl, pretty (although not a beauty), and with a good figure. Kit learns that the proposed union between her and his twin is really a marriage of convenience for both of them: Cressy wants her independence from an overbearing stepmother, and Evelyn needs to procure a sensible wife so that his guardian uncle will hand over the reins of his trust money. The money, as Kit finds out, is something Evelyn desperately needs, for their mother has run herself into deep, deep debt, and as filial sons, they must rescue her without proclaiming her embarassments to the world (or their censorius uncle).
When Evelyn fails to surface for the next several days, the imbroglio deepens. Kit finds himself falling in love with Cressy, and she learns to her surprise that her betrothed is steadier, kinder, and more charming than she ever suspected. But what will happen when Evelyn finally returns? Can the twins get the money before their mother’s financial imprudence exposed? Will Cressy still love Kit when she discovers the deception that has been practiced on her?
False Colours is a pleasant romp that reminds readers why Georgette Heyer is the queen of the Regency novel genre. The main characters being identical twins also added to my enjoyment. 🙂
Rosanne E. Lortz 