Ms. Heyer has quite an eye for detail, and although I cheerfully do not know what a phaeton and a gig is, or the difference between the two, years of experience in watching historical BBC miniseries and reading Regency-set bodice rippers have provided me with just enough knowledge to paint a broad picture. Ms. Heyer, too, has a wit that reminded me a little of Jane Austen. There's romance and humor in her beautiful prose.
Her characters too are very colorful Ancilla Trent is a very sensible, elegant, and humorous woman. She is genteel, becoming a governess because of her family's strained circumstances, but despite her position, she is very much well-connected, with a General as an uncle. Despite her accomplishment and excellent manners, she is treated poorly by some of the neighborhood matrons when they perceive she has 'put a cap' on Sir Waldo Hawkridge, the Nonesuch in question. It's laughable that the matrons would treat Ancilla so poorly, considering in birth and manners she is far superior than any of them. Ancilla has lived in London, and her uncle is a General acquainted by the Nonesuch, while the matrons live in the middle of nowhere, Yorkshire.
Sir Waldo is also a very dashing romance hero. He is called the Nonesuch because he excels at sports, horse-riding, has a considerable fortune, excellent manners, and an air of fashionable elegance around her. Sir Waldo is a true gentleman who cares for orphaned children in his spare-time, which has put his relatives to consider them as an 'eccentric'. He quite enjoys the rustic country society, although he lives most of the time in refined London. A good part of that enjoyment has something to do without Ancilla, of course. Her elegance, sense, and humor endears her to him. Now, if he can only convince her that it is not above her station to fall in love with him.
There are other characters too: Lord Lindeth, Sir Waldo's young cousin; Miss Tiffany Wield, Ancilla's charge and a very beautiful heiress; Mrs Umbridge, Tiffany's good-natured but befuddled aunt; etc. The cast of characters meant that we do not get to see our hero and heroine together as much as we want, but rest assured, when we do, it is evident that there's an attraction between them. Despite having other characters, the romance is still very much real and satisfactory.
However, I must admit that Tiffany's many tantrums are starting to get on my nerves. And I hate that the very sensible and intelligent Ancilla suddenly gets a case of stupid-itis that leads to the Big Misunderstanding near the end of the book. Besides creating unnecessary conflict, it also leads to an unsatisfactory ending. But, being my first Heyer, I shall relent and give it four-stars, just for Sir Waldo and Ancilla's banter alone.
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