Regency Buck

I first read Miss Heyer's Regency novels in 1980 while I was allegedly revising for my O levels. My parents owned most of the books and my brother and I enjoyed them enormously. Over the years, I have read them more than once, but since my parents sold their house, the books have been packed away in boxes.

Regency Buck is a tale of the fashionable London life in the early part of the C19th. We hear of the Royal dukes, the Prince Regent and those members of society who shaped the tastes of the day.

Following the death of their father, Miss Judith Taverner and her brother Peregrine travel to London from their home in Yorkshire to meet with their guardian, the Earl of Worth, and to set up home in the capital. On the way, they encounter a gentleman who acts to them in what they find a disagreeable way. Arriving in London, they are dismayed to find that, contrary to their understanding, their guardian is not their father's old friend, but his son, whose acquaintance they have already made on the road.

My Lord Worth makes it plain to his wards that he finds the error in their father's will every bit as painful as they do and wishes his guardianship to end.

During the year, Miss Taverner makes her mark on society and is courted by many suitors attracted by her large fortune. Perry falls into the life of a young man of wealth. Their guardian is forced several times to exert his will to prevent them.from acting against his wishes, and his wards are not always appreciative of his efforts. It is not until a series of events that could have had serious consequences befall Perry, now engaged to be married, that my lord appears to take notice.

Once Miss Taverner reaches her majority and the Earl's guardianship is at an end, his lordship is able to explain the reasons for his actions.

The story is full of details of the period, and the exploits of the characters are as packed with action as they are humour and emotion, all very ably conveyed by the narrator.