Arabella by Heyer

This is not one of my favourite Heyers, as the heroine is rather tiresomely naive. Arabella is a vicar's daughter from Yorkshire, her family are not rich but she has a wealthy godmother who invites her to come to London and have a Season. On the way her carriage breaks down and she and the lady who is travelling with her, a governess, take shelter at a hunting box, in the country while the carriage is being repaired. Arabella hears Mr Beaumaris, the wealthy gentleman who owns the house, say to his friend that young women are always trying to contrive to get to know him, because he is so rich. Annoyed, Arabella pretends that she is an heiress and that she too is bothered by suitors who want to marry her because of her fortune. When she gets to London, she finds that Mr Beaumaris is indeed a figure in society, and she regrets her silly boasting.. as the rumour that she is rich starts to go around and she finds that a lot of men are indeed paying court to her because of her supposed wealth. Arabella is also a kindly girl who takes her responsbilities as a Vicar's daughter seriously, and she is shocked by the various social problems in London. She becomes friendly with one of her godmother's maids, she takes up the cause of animals being ill treated by their owners, and rescues a climbing boy. Mr Beaumaris, who has guessed that she is not the heiress she claims to be, finds himself being asked frequently to help out with her lame ducks. He ends up adopting a dog she rescued, and finding a home on his estate for the climbing boy.