Ep17 - The Reluctant Widow

The Georgette Heyer Podcast

Spoilers ahead. A deathbed marriage, Bonaparte agents, a secret stairway, and Bouncer the much-maligned guard dog all play a part in this high-stakes adventure. We wonder if Elinor would have found herself embroiled in it if she wasn't making decisions when hungry.

Perhaps she should have had some of Dr. Ratcliffe's Restorative Pork Jelly - it seemed to keep Francis Cheviot strong enough to devise numerous devious plots (and we do like seeing the famous pork jelly get a mention).

But of course, Francis Cheviot is no match for the Carlyon brothers. We really enjoy the brotherly squabbling between sensible John and exuberant Nicky, and we commiserate with Elinor as everyone around her bows down to the unstoppable will of Ned Carlyon.

And naturally, our thoughts go out to Mrs Macclesfield - forced to rear her own children in the absence of a governess.

"She could not but acknowledge that it was the part of a loyal Englishwoman to do her possible to frustrate the enemies of her country, however ruthless these might be. But she wished she had not been the appointed Englishwoman."

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