Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer

This is another of Heyer's earlier novels and not among my favourites. It involves kidnappings and abductions and I prefer her gentler comedies of manners. It is set in the 18th century. The heroine is Deborah Grantham who comes from a genteel family, but they have no money. She has an aunt who looked after her from childhood and a brother who is an army officer but he is living on his pay. Deborah's aunt is good natured but silly, and she tries to make a living by discreetly running a gambling house. She invites gentlemen to her home to play cards and games of chance. But she is not much good at making money, as she is extravagant... Deborah is a good looking young woman and a lot of men come to the house to see her. But her being a gaming house hostess means that she is not going to be invited to society events where she might meet a suitable husband. However, Adrian Mablethorpe, a young man of 19 or so, who has a title and a fortune, goes to the house. He becomes smitten with Deborah, and asks her to marry him. Deborah is reluctant to encourage him as she is an honourable girl and she at 24 is 5 years his senior. She knows that his family would not accept her as his wife... but her aunt is getting increasingly desperate and she tries to encourage Deb to consider Adrian as a husband. Or alternatively, she could scare his family into buying her off by paying her money to stay away from him.