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Justin Alastair, the coldhearted Duke of Avon, had revenge in mind as he plucked a flamehaired urchin off the Paris streets. For Avon suspected the truth about his delicately handsome page—that "Léon" was really Léonie and none other than the wicked Comte de Saint Vire's legitimate daughter,... read more

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The wealthy and powerful Duke of Avon buys a young boy, Leon, suspecting that the child is being mistreated by his older brother; the Duke is also struck by the boy's unusual colouring, which reminds him of his enemy's red hair and dark brows. Making the boy his page, the Duke wins the child's... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

The wealthy and powerful Duke of Avon buys a young boy, Leon, suspecting that the child is being mistreated by his older brother; the Duke is also struck by the boy's unusual colouring, which reminds him of his enemy's red hair and dark brows. Making the boy his page, the Duke wins the child's devotion, much to the amusement of his friends, who find the Duke forbidding, selfish, and sometimes cruel. When it is revealed that Leon is actually Leonie, the Duke adopts the spirited, winsome girl as his ward and introduces her into society.

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First Sentence edit see section history

A gentleman was strolling down a side street in Paris, on his way back from the house of one Madame de Verchoureux.

Table of Contents edit see section history

One: His grace of Avon Buys a Soul
Two: Introducing the Comte de Saint-Vire
Three: Which Tells of a Debt Unpaid
Four: His Grace of Avon Becomes Further Acquainted with his Page
Five: His Grace of Avon Visits Versailles
Six: His Grace of Avon Refuses to Sell his Page
Seven: Satan and Priest at One
Eight: Hugh Davenant is Amazed
Nine: Leon and Leonie
Ten: Lady Fanny's Virtue is Outraged
Eleven: Mr Marling's Heart is Won
Twelve: His Grace of Avon's Ward
Thirteen: The Education of Leonie
Fourteen: The Appearance on the Scene of Lord Rupert Alastair
Fifteen: Lord Rupert Makes the Acquaintance of Leonie
Sixteen: The Coming of the Comte de Saint-Vire
Seventeen: Of a Capture, a Chase, and Confusion
Eighteen: The Indignation of Mr Manvers
Nineteen: Lord Rupert Wins the Second Trick
Twenty: His Grace of Avon Takes Command of the Game
Twenty-one: The Discomfiture of the Comte de Saint-Vire
Twenty-two: The Arrival of Another Player in the Game
Twenty-three: Mr Marling Allows Himself to be Persuaded
Twenty-four: Hugh Davenant is Agreeably Surprised
Twenty-five: Leonie Curtsies to the Polite World
Twenty-six: The Presentation of Leonie
Twenty-seven: The Hand of Madame de Verchoureux
Twenty-eight: The Comte de Saint-Vire Discovers an Ace in his Hand
Twenty-nine: The Disappearance of Leonie
Thirty: His Grace of Avon Trumps the Comte's Ace
Thirty-one: His Grace of Avon Wins All
Thirty-two: His Grace of Avon Astonishes Everyone for the Last Time

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 3 in Alastair Trilogy. (standard series)

Followed by Devil's Cub.

This is book 3 of 34 in Georgette Heyer Regency Romances in Order of Release Date. (community list)

Preceded by Powder and Patch, and followed by The Masqueraders.

This is book 47 of 109 in Top 109 Romance Novels (TheRomanceReader.com). (community list)

Preceded by Devil's Cub, and followed by Son of the Morning.

This is book 63 of 100 in AAR Top 100 Romances 2000. (authoritative list)

Preceded by Perfect, and followed by Heart Throb.

This book is in Georgette Heyer Georgian Romances. (community list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Georgette Heyer (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Stephanie Laurens (Foreword)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Maynard & Company
Country: United States
Publication Date: 1926
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 430

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PZ3.H514 Th8 PR6015.E795
  • Dewey: 823.914

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

Georgette Heyer books contain no material inappropriate for readers of any age. Heyer does use a good deal of period slang, and so readers should have the ability and patience to determine meaning from context.


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