After some close shaves, a party of Kit, his mother, one of her long term admirers and her brother and his family all turn up at the family country house, where it becomes vital that Kit maintains the pretence, in the face of all challenges. In order that she may not be embarrassed, Kit agrees to meet her family, including her fearsome grandmother, the Dowager. Evelyn cannot help her much as his father left an uncle as trustee of the estate until he can provide proof of responsibility or contract a suitable marriage, and he has become involved with a young woman, Cressida Stavely, who wishes to marry to escape her new step mother.
He has had a feeling that Evelyn is in trouble, but the more troubled is their mother who has borrowed heavily to support her lifestyle of reckless purchases and some gambling debts. The novel begins with Kit arriving back at the family home unexpectedly late at night. A super read which as always reveals research into a period of history and a genre of which Heyer was the proponent. A classic tale of humour and subterfuge, this is essentially a light hearted story of London life and a large country house, with a party of people among whom there is some confusion and personality clashes. Kit has to be resourceful and quick thinking to cope with the challenges of impersonating his brother, to deal with his mother, and to cope with his own feelings which soon emerge. As with many of Heyer’s romantic novels, there are some farcical events, some witty exchanges, and most of all some wonderful characters. His actions stem from the need to rescue his impecunious mother and not to let down a young woman who it seems Evelyn has become engaged to, and whose family is gathered to meet him. Kit has travelled back from Vienna where he has been engaged in the diplomatic service.
The novel revolves around the situation in which Evelyn has disappeared, leaving little indication of where he may be for several days. Their mother is a widow, devoted to her sons but recklessly extravagant. This 1963 Regency novel deals with a delightful deception that is only possible because the Honourable Christopher or Kit Fancot is the identical twin of his slightly older brother Evelyn, the new Earl.
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