The Black Moth

by Georgette Heyer

Overview

"Stylish, romantic, sharp, and witty."

—Margaret Drabble

A disgraced lord, a notorious highwayman

Jack Carstares, the disgraced Earl of Wyndam, left England seven long years ago, sacrificing his honor for that of his brother when he was accused of cheating at cards. Now Jack is back, roaming his beloved South Country in the disguise of a highwayman.

And the beauty who would steal his heart

Not long after Jack's return, he encounters his old adversary, the libertine Duke of Andover, attempting the abduction of the beautiful Diana Beauleigh. At the point of Jack's sword, the duke is vanquished, but foiled once, the "Black Moth" has no intention of failing again?

This is Georgette Heyer's first novel-a favorite of readers and a stirring tale to be enjoyed again and again.

"A tale of love and adventure, clearness and charm, and an originality to delight-a tale to stir one's blood."

BOSTON EVENING TRANSCRIPT

"A romance of the eighteenth century, with a wicked Duke, self-sacrificing elder brother, weak younger brother, highwayman, gambling, abduction, and rescue all complete."

THE SATURDAY REVIEW

"A well-filled story which keeps the reader pleased."

THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

"Wonderful characters, elegant, witty writing, perfect period detail, and rapturously romantic. Georgette Heyer achieves what the rest of us only aspire to."

KATIE FFORDE

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402219528
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	12/01/2009
Pages:	355
Sales rank:	364,667
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

The late Georgette Heyer was a very private woman. Her historical novels have charmed and delighted millions of readers for decades, though she rarely reached out to the public to discuss her works or private life. She was born in Wimbledon in August 1902. She wrote her first novel, The Black Moth, at the age of seventeen to amuse her convalescent brother; it was published in 1921 and became an instant success.

Heyer published 56 books over the next 53 years, until her death from lung cancer in 1974. Heyer's large volume of works included Regency romances, mysteries and historical fiction. Known as the Queen of Regency romance, Heyer was legendary for her research, historical accuracy and her extraordinary plots and characterizations. Her last book, My Lord John, was published posthumously in 1975. She was married to George Ronald Rougier, a barrister, and they had one son, Richard.

Read an Excerpt

Prologue

Clad in his customary black and silver, with raven hair unpowdered and elaborately dressed, diamonds on his fingers and in his cravat, Hugh Tracy Clare Belmanoir, Duke of Andover, sat at the escritoire in the library of his town house, writing.

He wore no rouge on his face, the almost unnatural pallor of which seemed designedly enhanced by a patch set beneath his right eye. Brows and lashes were black, the former slanting slightly up at the corners, but his narrow, heavy-lidded eyes were green and strangely piercing. The thin lips curled a little, sneering, as one dead-white hand travelled to and fro across the paper.

'…but it seems that the Fair Lady has a Brother, who, finding Me Enamoured, threw down the Gauntlet. I soundly whipt the presumptuous Child, and so the Affair ends. Now, as you, My dear Frank, also took some Interestt in the Lady, I write for the Express Purpose of informing You that at my Hands she has received no Hurt, nor is not like to. That I in part tell You and You shall not imagine Yr self in Honor bound again to call Me out, which Purpose, an I mistake not, I yesterday read in Yr Eyes. I should be Exceeding loth to meet You in a Second Time, when I should consider it my Duty to teach You an even severer Lesson than Before. This I am not Wishful of doing for the Liking I bear You. 'So in all Friendship believe me, Frank,
'Your most Obedient, Humble
'Devil.'

His Grace of Andover paused, pen held in mid-air. A mocking smile dawned in his eyes, and he wrote again.

'In the event of any Desire on Yr Part to hazard Yr Luck with my late Paramour, Permit Me to warn You 'gainst the Bantam Brother, who is in Very Truth a Fire-Eater, and would wish to make of You, as of Me, one Mouthfull. I shall hope to see You at the Queensberry Rout on Thursday, when You may Once More strive to direct mine Erring Footsteps on to the Thorny Path of Virtue.'

His Grace read the postscript through with another satisfied, sardonic smile. Then he folded the letter, and affixing a wafer, peremptorily struck the hand-bell at his side.
And the Honourable Frank Fortescue, reading the postscript half-an-hour later, smiled too, but differently. Also he sighed and put the letter into the fire.

'And so ends another affaire… I wonder if you'll go insolently to the very end?' he said softly, watching the paper shrivel and flare up. 'I would to God you might fall honestly in love—and that the lady might save you from yourself—my poor Devil!'

Table of Contents

Prologue

One: At The Chequers Inn, Fallowfield

Two: My Lord at the White Hart

Three: Introducing the Hon Richard Carstares

Four: Introducing the Lady Lavinia Carstares

Five: His Grace of Andover

Six: Bath: 29 Queen Square

Seven: Introducing Sundry New Characters

Eight: The Biter Bit

Nine: Lady O'Hara Intervenes

Ten: Lady O'Hara Retires

Eleven: My Lord Turns Rescuer and Comes Nigh Ending His Life

Twelve: My Lord Dictates a Letter and Receives a Visitor

Thirteen: My Lord Makes His Bow

Fourteen: Mistress Diana is Unmaidenly

Fifteen: O'Hara's Mind is Made Up

Sixteen: Mr Bettison Proposes

Seventeen: Lady O'Hara Wins Her Point

Eighteen: Enter Captain Harold Lovelace

Nineteen: The Reappearance of His Grace of Andover

Twenty: His Grace of Andover Takes a Hand in the Game

Twenty-one: Mrs Fanshawe Lights a Fire and O'Hara Fans the Flame

Twenty-two: Developments

Twenty-three: Lady Lavinia Goes to the Play

Twenty-four: Richard Plays the Man

Twenty-five: His Grace of Andover Captures the Queen

Twenty-six: My Lord Rides to Frustrate His Grace

Twenty-seven: My Lord Enters by the Window

Twenty-eight: In Which What Threatened to be Tragedy Turns to Comedy

Twenty-nine: Lady O'Hara is Triumphant

Epilogue

Editorial Reviews

"Everyone is in love with dashing Jack Carstares!" — HistoricalNovels.Info

"Heyer builds suspense into the story that kept me reading... Pure fun. " — Jenny Loves to Read

"Richly detailed... The world depicted by Heyer was just fascinating." — Becky’s Book Reviews

"A distinctly witty and enchanting tale. " — Rundpinne

"A great story, set in a decadent time period. What more can you ask for in a great romance?" — Debbie’s Book Bag

"The Black Moth is a nice story, enjoyable in its own unseasoned, romantic way." — A Book Blogger’s Dairy

"Witty and cunning with sharp dialog that kept me entertained throughout." — Book Junkie

From the Publisher

A distinctly witty and enchanting tale.
— Jennifer Higgins

Rundpinne

A great story, set in a decadent time period. What more can you ask for in a great romance?
— Debbie Lester

Debbie's Book Bag

The Black Moth is a nice story, enjoyable in its own unseasoned, romantic way.
— Rashmi Sirnarvis

A Book Blogger's Dairy

Witty and cunning with sharp dialog that kept me entertained throughout.
— Brande Waldron

Book Junkie

Julian Rhind-Tutt is simply superb in his narration of this delightful and charming Regency romance, written in 1921, the first novel by Georgette Heyer, "the Queen of Regency Romance." In this tale, the hero turns highwayman after he takes the blame for his younger brother's cheating at cards. The handsome hero must save the beautiful lady who helps him when he is wounded when she’s later kidnapped by the dastardly duke, played by Rhind-Tutt to sneering perfection. He easily moves from the commanding voice of the hero to the shrill voices of the hero's sister-in-law and her friends and positively reeks of snobbery and villainy when portraying the duke. Filled with interesting details of the period combined with an expert narration, this audio offering is captivating. A.C.P. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

MARCH 2014 - AudioFile