I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
False Colours
by
Georgette Heyer
historical romance in a Kindle edition that was published by Casablanca Sourcebooks on March 1, 2008 and has 355 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include These Old Shades, Bath Tangle, Lady of Quality, The Black Moth, Venetia, The Spanish Bride, Simon the Coldheart, Beauvallet, A Civil Contract, Regency Buck, An Infamous Army, Frederica, The Unknown Ajax, Black Sheep, Sprig Muslin, Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle, The Grand Sophy, These Old Shades, Arabella, Powder and Patch, The Reluctant Widow, The Nonesuch, The Corinthian, April Lady
A standalone Regency historical romance revolving around a pair of twins, one of whom is in missing. It was originally published in 1963.
My Take
It starts well with a break-in at a nobleman’s house in London that is quickly followed by our meeting the dowager countess. She sounds a treat and you can tell that mother and son love each other dearly.
Heyer explores that bond between twins — it sure comes in handy in False Colours, when Kit steps in to rescue Evelyn. Of course, it’s handier that Heyer uses third person protagonist point-of-view from Kit’s perspective, mostly. She does throw in a bit of global subjective POV so we hear the thoughts of some of the other characters.
Mama is a darling with not the least idea of economy. It amazed me how clueless she was, but she does love her boys. She will make you laugh with her approach to her debt and inability to pay attention to how she spends money. She thinks it’s the height of folly to redeem a fake piece of jewelry for the amount at which the real one was valued. I gotta say though, Mama is a lovely lady with a good heart who excels at manipulation, lol.
It’s to be a marriage of convenience with plenty of chatter about the affairs the men have and that their wives ignore. Kit’s and Cressy’s comments on their odd relatives are more good ones. There was a past Stavely, known as Gentleman Dick, who ended upon the scaffold. Of course, Grandmama is a hoot. She’s mean, nasty, and hides her sense of humor.
Why do people think they can change someone? The person you meet is (usually) the person they are. They ain’t gonna change. Then again, that trust their dad set up keeping Evelyn from being able to administer the estate he inherited because of Evelyn’s proclivities kind of puts the lie to that one. Then again . . .
It’s a catch-22 for Evelyn, as it’s too humiliating to ask his uncle to allow to do anything on the estate, and yet he’s so bored with nothing to do that he gets in to all kinds of mischief, which only makes his uncle think he’s too irresponsible to have any responsibility. It’s enough to drive you mad.
I must say I’ve always been appalled at how the nobility consider paying their bills — just buy something else from them. And still don’t pay.
The situation between Evelyn and Cressy is unresolved with them still getting to know each other with too many questions left unanswered, of which naturally, Kit has no knowledge.
The kicker that has Cressy considering this marriage is, okay it is sad, but it’s also funny with the upper servants refused to accept the new missus.
It’s sweet getting to know Cressy. She’s an intelligent woman with a good sense of humor. The comments she makes about her grandfathers and father and the time they wasted on their Grand Tours were sadly funny. I’d love to see how she would fare on her own Grand Tour.
I have NO idea who Evelyn Martinhoe is. I’m guessing it’s Evelyn, but where the Martinhoe comes from . . .?
It’s a tale of family and honor — and a few nasty relatives, lol — with a look at the culture and mores of Regency England. If you enjoy an historical romance, you can’t help but enjoy False Colours.
The Story
It’s a nightmare and Evelyn is determined, in all honor, to rescue his mama from her dilemma, even if it does mean a marriage of convenience.
Life gets worse when Lady Denville uses a ruby brooch as collateral in a game of chance. Only, that brooch is a fake and the twins must redeem it before the truth is found out.
The situation only worsens when Lady Stavely invites herself and Cressida to Ravenhurst, where “Evelyn” escaped to, to avoid getting to know Cressy better.
The Characters
The rackety and forgetful Evelyn Fancot, the Earl of Denville, is the older of twins, and recently came into the title. His younger twin, the Honorable Christopher “Kit” Fancot, a.k.a. Kester, is in the diplomatic service in Vienna. Franz is Kit’s Austrian valet. The charming Amabel Fancot née Cliffe (the daughter of the late Earl of Baverstock), the Dowager Countess, Lady Denville, is their sprightly, fashionable mother who adores them. Miss Rimpton is Lady Denville’s top-lofty dresser. Mrs Woodstock is her secretary. William had been Lady Denville’s mean husband. Henry Fancot, Lord Brumby, is their paternal uncle, a retired ambassador. Louisa was a sister. The late Mr Bembridge was Kit’s godfather. Great-aunt Augusta intimidated Evelyn and Kit. The parsimonious Cosmo Cliffe is Amabel’s brother. Emma is Cosmo’s mousy wife obsessed with the health of their son, the dandified Ambrose. The current Baverstock (head of the family) is married to the odious Amelia who is too cheap to spend money on daughter Kate until Maria has a husband. Harriet is another Cliffe sister. Amabel’s mother wasn’t very practical.
Fimber is Eve’s valet, although he and Challow, Eve’s groom, have served the twins since childhood. The Denville townhouse in Berkley Square employs Mrs Drinting as the housekeeper and Brigg is the butler. Dawlish is my lady’s very expensive cook. Adlestrop is the Denville man of business. Dr Ainslie is Lady Denville’s physician.
Ravenhurst is the Denville country estate where Tugby is the lodgekeeper, Willey is the new gamekeeper, Mrs Pinner “Pinny” is their old retired nurse, Mr and Mrs Norton are the new butler and housekeeper, Goodleigh is the bailiff, and Newbiggin is the head gardener. John-Coachman retired and lives with his married daughter. Neighbors include Sir John and Lady Thatcham, the local squire, and their children Edward and Anne; Lord and Lady (Maria) Dersingham, Lady Stavely’s arch-enemy; and, General “Spider-shanks” Oakenshaw is a rival of Bonamy’s.
Miss Cressida “Cressy” Stavely has been her father’s companion for years; Lady Denville is Cressy’s godmother. George, Lord Stavely, has recently remarried to the now-pregnant (nasty) Albinia Gillifoot. Cressy and her father live in Mount Street. It’s imperative that the Dowager Lady Stavely, Grandmama, approve of Evelyn. Jane is Grandmama’s maid; William is her footman. Lord Stavely’s siblings include the single, “put-upon” Clara, Augusta (Lady Ebchester), Elizabeth “Eliza” (cousin Henry is her oldest son and they live at Soborough Hall), and Caroline. Other relatives include Charles and the anxious Lucton. Dursley is their butler. Miss Yate had been Cressy’s governess.
Woodland House is . . .
. . . home to the Askhams, which includes the angelic Patience and their sons, Jeffrey who’s a parson, Philip who’s up at Cambridge, and Ned who is at Rugby. Staff includes James and Nurse. Dr Elstead is their local physician.
Sir Bonamy Ripple is said to be richer than Golden Ball, and he’s been “in love” with Lady Denville for years. He has been a sweetheart, and that ending is such a crack-up! Lady Denville’s other devoted admirers include Mr Horning and Lord Chacely. It’s possible that Newlyn and Sir John Streatley are more admirers.
Kit has worked for General Lord Cathcart in St Petersburgh and in the campaign of 1814. George Cathcart was the general’s son who became friends with Kit. This connection led to networking with Lord Castlereagh who introduced him to Lord Stewart, Castlereagh’s half-brother.
Colonel Dan Mackinnon of the Coldstream Guards has a reputation as a climber. Brummell’s reign is over and he’s fled to the Continent. Céleste is the countess’ dressmaker. Mr Clent is Evelyn’s barber. Lord Silverdale won a brooch and is the world’s most malicious gossip. Mrs Alperton is the mother of Evelyn’s current mistress, Clara Alperton. Flixton had known the older Alperton. Poor Augusta Sandhayes and her family had to move to a cheaper house.
Child’s is not Lady Denville’s only bank, for she thinks of a variety of people as her bank as well, including Lord Edgbaston and Sir Bonamy Ripple. Rundell & Bridge are jewelers.
The Cover and Title
The cover background is a mix of the golden browns of trees with Cressy in a lilac gown and bonnet over her dark hair and a dark cloak, walking hand on arm with the very cute Kit in buff pantaloons, stockings, a navy Regency tailcoat, an oatmeal-colored vest and a light rust cravat. A partial profile of another gentleman, hmmm, the missing Evelyn?, is to the left. At the top is the embossed author’s name with a testimonial to the right of Kit’s head. Just above their knees, almost completely inside a transparent pale blue banner is the title. All the text is in white.
The title is what Kit is under, False Colours.
