Rolande

The major stumbling part of this book has nothing to do with the actual plot. The fact is that I cannot believe in the will set up. From what the author tells us it is clearly contrary to the Rule Against Perpetuities (Duke of Norfolk's Case 1681.) One of the purposes of this Rule was to prevent exactly what happened in this book, an interest in property being tied up for generations. Once I got over that, though, I settled back and enjoyed the story of duelling claimants for an 8 million pound fortune. Rolande Henry is a stray sprig of the Henry family (quite mad, the whole bunch of them) who has landed in Calais as an actress in a third rate provincial troupe. She happens to look a great deal like the mother of the missing heir. Jasper Carrington decides to enlist her in an attempt to prove the current claimant espoused by his aunt and her sleazy solicitor, a fraud. Rolande, who is neither stupid nor cowardly, finds herself tossed from role to role, intriguing with the best of them. The book is fast, fun and well worth reading. The Regency background is definitely more than wallpaper.(Rule Against Perpetuities: an interest will vest, if it vests at all, within a life in being (at the time of the creation of the interest) plus 21 years. If it fails to vest within that time period then it is void from creation.)

Clare Darcy was the best of all Heyer imitators, and specialized in pert young heroines. In this novel, Rolande Henry is a penniless orphan who decides it is only practical to impersonate a young man in return for much needed 10,000 pounds. She does not realize this escapade will plunge her into danger - and romance!