Pan Books
An all-time favourite with me...have read this book sooo many times, that I have lost count.
The Marquis of Vidal, Dominique is in trouble ... being hot-headed and used to getting his own way, he shoots someone and is being banished to Paris by his father, The Duke of Avon. To help relieve his boredom during the journey, he decides to take along Sophia Challoner, who in her turn was scheming to trick the Marquis into marrying her. As the author would have it, his urgent note with the plans of elopement falls into the hands of Sophiya's straight-laced sister Mary Challoner.
The Marquis discovers the switch only after setting sail, and as is his habit, tries to have his way with Mary. But the resourceful lady manages to thwart him by shooting him in the shoulder. By the time they land in Paris, both the Marquis and Mary are in love,undeclaired to each other. Having eloped with the Marquis who had earned his nickname as the Devil's cub, they decide to protect her reputation by trying to hide her away from the english population in Paris.
Happily, after a lot of confusion created by Juliana, the Marquis' cousin and her beau Mr. Comyn and their quarrels, misunderstandings, duels, intervention on behalf of His Grace of Avon, Lady Fanny the Marquis' mother , his uncle Rupert.....they discover that Mary is the grand-daughter of the Duke's oldest friends, and arrange their wedding .
The gist of a book can be explained in a few lines...but nothing compares to the experience of reading the book. I have always felt that the success of a book lies in the narration...the way Mary finds ways to handle the impossible Devil's cub, the way the Marquis declares his love for Mary to his cousin.....the love evident between the Duke and Duchess of Avon who appear in These Old Shades.....and uncle Rupert who is in a class of his own......
Love this book..I do!
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