These Old Shades Part I

This is another of Heyer's early works, set in the 18th century. Her hero is Justin, Duke of Avon, a selfish aristocrat of 40 who lives to gamble and womanise. He is staying In Paris, with a friend, Hugh Davenant, who is a more moral and serious man. Justin has a young brother of 20, a scapegrace called Rupert and a flighty married sister, Fanny Marling. On his way home from a lady's house, Justin runs into a boy running away from his brother who is going to beat him. Justin realises that the boy isnt of peasant stock, unlike his brother, and tells him that he will buy him from him to keep as a servant. He brings the boy Leon home and takes him around with him as his page. After a few weeks, he tells Leon that he knows she is really a girl. She tells him a bit about herself, she grew up in a poor farmer's family, but was educated by the local priest. When her parents died, her brother Jean took her to Paris and she dressed as a boy to serve in their tavern.... Leonie has become devoted to Justin as he has rescued her from a horrible life, but she does not like being a girl. Justin tells her he is taking her to England....