The Convenient Marriage by George Heyer (published 1934) features the very languid and lazy Lord Rule’s marriage to the very young 17-year-old Horatia Winwood, the youngest daughter who seeks to financial save the family while allowing her older sisters to marry as they please. Stuttering Horatia wants a life an exciting life of wealth, while the other sisters do not want to marry the extreme wealthy Lord Rule. Despite the impropriety, Horatia approaches Rule and offers herself as the Lord’s wife, a concept that greatly takes aback yet amuses the lazy Lord.
As a novel that takes place in the late 1700s, Horatia’s emergence in society is full of extremely tall wigs and fancy parties full of top-of-society intrigue, all with the promise and arrangement that Rule and Horatia will both do as they wish, without bothering the other. Her delightful adventures commence, and much to Lord Rule’s chagrin, she befriends his only true enemy. Lethbridge seems determined to get his revenge through Rule’s innocent wife, which causes Rule to become more involved than he expected to be.
Horry’s shocking escapades draw Rule in more until he finds himself (spoiler lol) falling in love with the ridiculous fresh-out-of-the-school-room young wife. It is a typical Heyer in the extreme expending and exaggerated humorous ending. It’s not my favorite Heyer novel, as there is, in my opinion, not enough falling in love before our happy ending, but I enjoyed it all the same. This was a reread for me of The Convenient Marriage, since I’d read it back in my anxious COVID year in which I sought escape in hilarity and superficial stories. Heyer is a perfect author for such a relaxing and amusing fallback.
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