This is one of the reasons I love reading books by Georgette Heyer: They make me laugh.
Today I am re-reading
Faro's Daughter. Who knows how often I've read it already? I keep these books on a shelf by my bed and grab them to read over and over.
A passage I just read made me laugh aloud. The main character, Deb Grantham, and her aunt, Lady Bellingham, are hiding Phoebe Laxton, a young, rather foolish woman, in their home. Phoebe has just been discovered by her persecutor and is so frightened at being seen that she faints when she runs to tell Deb and Lady Bellingham. They succeed in waking her and try to find out what happened to scare her so.
First there is the passage where Phoebe faints and Lady Bellingham is trying to figure out how to revive her:
'Oh, heavens, if it is not one thing it is another!' wailed her ladyship, looking round wildly for the vinaigrette. 'Untie her laces! Where are those salts? Why is nothing ever where it is wanted? Ring the bell! Oh no, the hartshorn is in that cupboard! I shall go distracted! You ought to burn some feathers under her nose, but there are only the new ostrich plumes in my best hat, and really---- However, take them if you like! I am sure I do not grudge them!'
I must admit I snorted as I wrote this. Not very ladylike, I know, but it cracks me up. Barbara Pym also uses "wildly" in this way. Her characters sometimes speak or think "wildly" like Lady Bellingham does here. And I love the way her ladyship is willing to sacrifice her ostrich feathers. Too funny.
The book goes on to describe Deb and Lady Bellingham's unsuccessful attempts to calm Phoebe down with reason and reassurances. They are quite frustrated that nothing they say makes any difference. Then Phoebe's fiance, Lord Mablethorpe, comes in and learns of the problem.
...his brows drew together across the bridge of his beautiful nose, and he said with more decision than Deborah had ever before heard in his voice: 'That settles it, then!'
Miss Laxton [Phoebe] heaved a huge sigh, and tucked her hand in his. 'I knew you would know what to do!'
'Well, it's to be hoped he does,' said Lady Bellingham, with some asperity. 'If I had known that all you wanted was to hear someone say that settles it, I would have said it myself for I am sure it is easy enough to say, and doesn't signify in the least!'
I find that quite hilarious. "Asperity" itself is just a funny word. And the absurdity that if her ladyship -- or anyone -- had just said
that settles it, all would have been well.
I only know a few other people who love Georgette Heyer novels like I do. My best friend from high school, Cindy B, was the one who discovered them and told me about them; my sister Jan shares my enjoyment; my good friend Gert Bamford also was one of the rare people who not only had heard of Georgette Heyer but, like me, often tested the worthiness of used bookstores by checking to see if they carried Georgette Heyers.
One time when I was sad and scared about some health tribulations going on, my sister was trying to comfort me on the phone. She said, "I wish there was something I could do to help, Mave." I asked her to bring over some of the Georgette Heyer books she owned. Jan said she would bring them all and, "You be the keeper of our Georgette Heyer books." It makes me tear up to think about. What sisterly love.
Links:
On Georgette Heyer
Georgette-Heyer.com
Wikipedia
Amazon author page
Anyway, I'm having fun. I recommend both books. I'll try to come back and blog more thoroughly about them later.
