The Convenient Marriage

The Earl of Rule decides he needs a wife and chooses Lizzie Winwood to fulfill the role. Unfortunately, Lizzie’s heart already belongs to Captain Heron. Although Heron is penniless, and Lizzie’s family needs money yesterday, she really doesn’t want to marry Rule instead. But it’s alright, because Lizzie’s youngest sister, Horatia, volunteers to take one for the team and marry the dashing, handsome, and incredibly rich Earl in Lizzie’s place. So selfless of her! 😊

This was a zany, hilarious story filled with lovable characters. I loved Horry’s madcap brother, Pelham, and his friend Pomeroy, and how they managed to rope Heron, an otherwise strait-laced character, into their wild schemes. Their antics cracked me up, and I show more highlighted so many funny lines. I also really enjoyed Pel’s sibling relationship with Horry, which was also quite funny. Lethbridge and Crosby were good villains, and, of course, Rule was a great hero. I loved that he trusted and showed so much patience with his impetuous young bride. I wish the ending had been longer, but that’s only because I wanted more Rule and Horry. show less

The great joy in Heyer's novels is not necessarily the means by which the principle characters contrive to misunderstand each other until they finally end up on the same wavelength. No, the delight in these is as much the supporting characters and the set pieces that scatter the book. In this case, the principles are Marcus, Earl of Rule and his very bold young wife, Horatia Winwood. The delight, however, rests in the passage where Horatia's brother, Pelham, her brother in law Edward Heron and Pelham's friend Roland Pommeroy try and save her from herself. This culminates in an attempt the hold up a coach as highway men. the humour with which this scene is presented is positively brilliant. When Sir Roland tries to enquire of their show more victim where he got his fine horses, you have to laugh at his bafflement when the man doesn't want to deal. Priceless.
As usual, the entire book could have been avoided had the two principles actually had an honest conversation at the end of chapter 1, but that would have been to miss the fun. show less

Originally published in 1934, The Convenient Marriage is one of Georgette Heyer's earlier romances, and although the author is credited with inventing the "Regency Romance" genre, belongs more to the Georgian school. I understand that Heyer was quite embarassed by these Georgian romances, later in life, no doubt owing to their reliance on such swashbuckling staples as duels, highwaymen, and out-and-out kidnapping. Whatever the case may be, I adore this book, which never fails to make me laugh, and I keep it by me for times when I need a little light-hearted escape.

It is the story of Horatio Winwood, a rather short young lady with intimidating eyebrows and a stammer, who decides that the fabulously wealthy Earl of Rule must marry her, show more rather than her older sister Elizabeth. The "proposal" scene is simply delicious, ranking among my favorite Heyer moments, and is only equaled by the hilarious sequence of events involving "Pel and Pom" (as I like to think of them) later on in the novel.

This tale of two very different characters, their eventful marriage, and how they come to an understanding of one another, is engagingly told. The cast of supporting characters, from the dastardly Lord Lethbridge to the genial and rather hot-headed Pelham, is superb. Here the reader will find, not one, but two fake hold-ups, a genuine kidnapping, a rather dull duel, and the story of true love... What more could be desired? show less

The Convenient Marriage was one of my favorite Heyer Georgian novels, that is, until I reread it. There are still some wonderful parts to this book but, unfortunately, the heroine is not one of them. I wonder now why I was charmed by Horry (Horatia, named for Walpole) so many years ago? She is immature, silly, and an irritating spendthrift. Her family uses the "can't help it, it's in the blood" excuse to explain away Horry's and her brother's gambling addictions. I found myself irritated when Horry's husband Lord Rule kept paying off gambling debts for those two. And even more irritated when he paid for Horry's diamond encusted shoes and ridiculous hats.

But there are some really comic and wonderful scenes. Two do concern Horry: her show more marriage proposition to Lord Rule and the way she rescues herself from a compromising abduction. But, by far, the best scene is between the charming Rule and his rival, the even more charming rascal Lethbridge. Their banter during their deadly duel is classic Heyer and worth the read. There is a truly funny highwayman incident on Hampstead Heath and minor characters who liven up the pages.

This is early Heyer. In future novels she creates heroines who are worthy of the likes of Rule. show less

If you think of this book as a Regency romance done by the Marx Brothers, you will get a sense of the appeal and fun of this story. [The genre of “Regency romances,” usually set in the period of the British Regency (1811-1820), involves romances with an emphasis on manners. There is generally a great deal of witty, fast-paced dialogue among the protagonists, and in terms of romance, more talk than action. While Jane Austen is perhaps the best-known author from this period, the genre remained popular thereafter, and Georgette Heyer (herself influenced by Austen), wrote over two dozen such novels.]

Although this book is considered a Regency romance, it is set a little early, in 1776. [Thus it is more accurately considered a "Georgian show more romance," the Georgian era of British history spanning the reigns of the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain who were all named George: George I, George II, George III and George IV and covering the period from 1714 to 1830. The Regency Era is a "sub-period" this time.]

What I found especially delightful about this book is that the affaire d’amour involved two people who were already married to each other, in, as the title suggests, a marriage of convenience.

When the 35-year-old and wealthy Marcus, Earl of Rule, proposes marriage to 20-year-old Elizabeth Winwood (whom Rule barely knows), she agrees to marry him although she loves someone else (Edward Heron). But her family is desperate for money, largely owing to the gambling habit of Elizabeth's brother Pelham, and a marriage to Rule would provide them with a large settlement.

The youngest Winwood sister, Horatia (called Horry), only 17, decides to “save” Elizabeth so she can be with her true love Edward, and goes to see Rule, asking in her stammer, “C-could you - would you m-mind very much - having m-me instead?”

Rule protests he is too old for Horry, but she assures him no one would think he was as old as he actually was. Laughing, he grows charmed by Horry, who promises not to “interfere” with Rule’s private life, and agrees to her plan.

The two marry, much to the titillation of society, and Horry soon takes up the occupations of the idle rich, viz., gambling and spending money on fashions and equipages, with relish.

Meanwhile several parties conspire to undermine the marriage. Lady Caroline Massey has been Rule’s mistress, and had hoped to snare him permanently for his money and connections. Baron Robert Lethbridge wants revenge on Rule for stymying his designs on Rule’s sister, Lady Louisa. Rule’s cousin, Crosby Drelincourt, heir-presumptive to Rule, doesn’t want any competition for Rule’s fortune.

The group convinces Horry that Rule “had been for years the [Lady] Massey’s slave.” Horry, who is beginning to love her husband, sets out to make Rule jealous by consorting with Lethbridge. Lethbridge turns out to be even a bigger rake than his reputation allowed, and Horry gets into serious trouble. Her brother, his good friend Sir Roland Pommeroy, and Edward Heron all try to help her out, to hilarious effect, not knowing that Rule is aware of their schemes. The zany build-up to the dénouement is counterbalanced by the tenderness of the resolution.

Discussion: I couldn’t help but fall in love with Lord Rule. He is patient, generous, humorous, tender, and most helpfully, smarter than anyone else around him. He is enchanted by Horry’s naivety and honesty, although she did indeed have a lot of growing up to do. (It’s very sad there is no sequel.)

I should add, that in order to enjoy this book, you’ll have to leave your social conscience on the shelf for a while. These are all rich white people spending money profligately which was quite possibly made from exploiting colonial subjects, and certainly with no regard for the hardships of the poor. But it can also be said that the author underlays her tale with a certain cynicism and irony that encourages the reader to regard the effete rich with a jaundiced eye, along with affection for those characters who make an effort to maintain morality and humaneness.

Evaluation: If you like the comical romances of Sophie Kinsella and you also like Jane Austin, you well might enjoy this confection of a story written in 1934 but none the worse for its age. show less

This is my first Georgette Heyer novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. ‘The Convenient Marriage’ is a standalone Regency romance although Heyer wrote many historical romances and detective fiction; some as one-off novels others as series. I didn’t know what to expect from ‘The Convenient Marriage’ but right from the off I loved Horry Winwood. She is cheeky and clever, charming and brave.
The story starts with the three Winwood sisters. The eldest Elizabeth has agreed to receive the attentions of Lord Rule, knowing he intends to propose. But Lizzie wants to marry her impoverished soldier beau Lieutenant Edward Heron. The Winwood family is destitute due to the gambling habit of their brother Pelham and Lizzie knows the marriage show more will save the family. Her sister Charlotte will not consider marrying Rule and Horatia, or Horry, is too young being only seventeen. Until Horry, so named after her godfather Horace Walpole, uses her initiative and visits Rule. She proposes that she marry him so Lizzie is free to marry Edward. And so the convenient marriage takes place.
The real story is what happens next. Horry is a bit of a minx, getting into trouble, playing cards and generally doing things a wife shouldn’t do. And despite always expecting the disapproval of Rule, she cannot seem to stop getting into trouble. Motivated by gossip about Rule’s mistress, Horry takes more risks but her gallant brother Pel is on hand to help.
If you like fizzing, humorous romances tossed together with convincing Regency details, you will love this; the dresses, the hair styles, the wigs, the manners, the food. Regency London seems full of chaotic parties with dancing, music, cards and flirting. An exuberant escapist book, ideal for transporting you to another time far away from your everyday life.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/ show less

When Lord Rule proposes to her oldest sister Lizzie, Horatia Winwood takes it upon herself to marry the Lord to help her sister and her beau. Having promised not to interfere with Lord Rule, Horatia is aware that the marriage is one of convenience. However, when Lord Rule's archnemesis decides to ruin Horatia's reputation, it may turn out the marriage is a love match after all.

A delectable read I devoured over the course of two days, Horatia and Lord Rule are both charming characters and the plot is quite a bit more action packed than other Heyers I've read. The novel also varies from the norm in that it begins with a marriage rather than ending with one. With a fun cast of supporting characters (my personal favourite being Horatia's show more gambling and drink-prone brother, Pelham) the novel was just the light and fast read I needed. show less