Cousin Kate

 

This was a really fun one. Heyer combined her own unique brand of Regency romance with some gothic horror in the vein of "Jane Eyre". My only complaint, and it's a minor one, was that it was a touch longer than it needed to be. 

Kate is a 24 year old orphan with no close relations. When she's released from her job as a governess, she returns to the London home of her former nurse, Sarah Nibb, to look for another position. She's not having much luck and ponders working in a dress shop as a seamstress, but Sarah won't hear of it and writes to her half-aunt Minerva, who's married to Sir Timothy Broome of Staplewood. Minerva had no idea she had a half-niece and immediately comes to London to take Kate home. 

Kate is overwhelmed by her aunt's generosity and happy enough at Staplewood, although she is a bit bored. Torquil, Minerva's fragile son, is a few years younger than her and seems much younger than his years, very immature and can be annoying. Philip, Torquil's cousin, comes to visit, and immediately sparks fly. Anyone who's read Heyer will recognize that the two of them are going to end up together (I guess that was a spoiler. Sorry!). 

Minerva has other plans, though. She wants Kate to marry Torquil. 

Kate, meanwhile, is experiencing some odd things at Staplewood. Screams in the night, strange men lurking in the garden, her door being locked from the outside. She starts to suspect all is not right (she's correct). 

I really enjoyed the horror element, mild as it was. It was a nice touch.