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Arabella
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Arabella (1949) (edit title/settings)

by Georgette Heyer (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

One Little White Lie . . . Armed with beauty, virtue and a benevolent godmother, the impetuous but impoverished Arabella Tallant embarked on her first London season with her mother's wish in mind: snare a rich husband. But when fate cast her in the path of arrogant, socially prominent... read more

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Summary edit see section history

Arabella, the beautiful daughter of a country vicar, sets out to London to have a season and make an advantageous marriage. On her way there, her carriage has an accident and she has to stop over at the hunting box of Robert Beaumaris, the Nonpareil of the town and one of the wealthiest men in... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Arabella, the beautiful daughter of a country vicar, sets out to London to have a season and make an advantageous marriage. On her way there, her carriage has an accident and she has to stop over at the hunting box of Robert Beaumaris, the Nonpareil of the town and one of the wealthiest men in England.

Mr Beaumaris suspects the 'accident' to be a ruse on the part of someone chasing him for his fortune. Overhearing him make a remark to this effect, Arabella impulsively pretends to be an heiress. Mr. Beaumaris, knowing this to be untrue is amused by her daring to put him in his place, and decides to encourage his friend's belief in this falsehood. He is bored by Society and views the town cynically. He is also amused by the fact that society will follow whomever leads, irrespective of the wisdom of the person's behavior.

Arabella requests that Mr Beaumaris and his friend Lord Fleetwood not reveal her "fortune". She continues on her journey to London to stay with her godmother, Lady Bridlington, blithely believing that nothing will come of this interlude. However, Lord Fleetwood is not very discreet, and the town soon believes Arabella to be an heiress. To amuse himself, Mr Beaumaris decides to make Arabella the rage of the town by flirting with her and driving her out in his carriage. Arabella is aware that his intentions are not serious, but plays along because to be admired by him makes her a social success.

Arabella feels that she cannot make a good match when all the town falsely believe her to be wealthy and knowing that Mr Beaumaris can have no designs on her supposed fortune and is only amusing himself with her, she is most comfortable in his company. She enchants him with her unusual behaviour (which includes foisting a climbing boy and a mongrel on him) and the fact that she does not appear to fancy him.

Mr Beaumaris eventually falls in love with Arabella and proposes. Arabella, not knowing him to be aware of her deception from the start, tearfully refuses, realising that she is indeed in love with him, but cannot reveal her deception without risking his love. Meanwhile, Arabella's brother Bertram has come to town on 100 pounds that he won. The wealthy friends he makes soon lead him into debt and Arabella decides she must accept Mr Beaumaris's proposal in order to pay off Bertram's debts. Mr Beaumaris guesses the cause of her sudden reversal and is amused, knowing her to be in love with him, despite the appearance of the situation. She insists they elope together since she's desperate and he agrees, but instead takes her to visit his grandmother's house. Once they arrive, she reveals that she is not a wealthy woman, he reveals that he knew all along and that he went to visit her family. All is resolved by the fact that his fortune is so massive, the lack of hers will never be noticed, and the lack of fortune for her brothers and sisters will be explained away by an eccentric uncle who left the money to Arabella.

Characters edit see section history

  • Arabella "Bella" Tallant: Eldest of the four Tallant sisters, named after her godmother. She is expected to marry well in order to be helpful to her younger sisters.
  • Sophy (Sophia) Tallant: The second Tallant sisters, named for her mother. She is sixteen.
  • Margaret "Meg" Tallant: The third Tallant sister. Margaret is 15 and described as "buxom"
  • Elizabeth "Betsy" Tallant: Youngest of the four Tallant sisters. Betsy is often sickly "...her delicacy was regarded by all but her Mama as commonplace."
  • James Tallant: Eldest Tallant son. "at present up at Oxford, prior to taking Orders". Named after his uncle and godfather
  • Bertram Tallant: One of the Tallant brothers. Younger than Bella and James, he is 17. He had been educated at Harrow, but he was at present domiciled at home, working under his father's guidance with a view to passing Smalls during the Easter Vacation
  • Harry Tallant: Eleven-year-old son of Tallant family
  • Henry Tallant "Papa": The Vicar and father to the various Tallant children.
  • Sophia Tallant "Mama": The vicar's wife, mother to the Tallant children.
  • Robert Beaumaris: Mr Beaumaris is 30 years old and considered a confirmed bachelor."Those who had never seen it <his true smile> were inclined to think him a proud, disagreeable sort of a man, though only the most daring would ever have uttered aloud such a criticism of one who, besides possessing all the advantages of birth and fortune, was an acknowledged leader of the society."
  • Lord Charles Fleetwood: Friend of Mr. Beaumaris.
  • John: check this- "Baby Jack"? Tallant
  • James Tallant "The Squire": uncle to the Tallant children and godfather to James
  • Miss Blackburn: a governess who travels with Bella to London
  • Arabella Haverhill (Lady Bridlington): Bella's godmother, a widow
  • Frederick Haverhill (Lord Bridlington): Lady Bridlington's son.
  • Maria: 1. Local young woman whom the Squire would prefer for his son, Thomas, to marry. 2. Also Maria Kirkmichael, a young woman in London
  • Horace Epworth: Mrs Penkridge's nephew, desirous of meeting an heiress.
  • Caroline: Mr. Beaumaris' maiden aunt.
  • Ulysses: a dog
  • Brough: Butler in Mr. Beaumaris' London house.
  • Emma: Bella's aunt. (Maternal?)
  • Mr. Felix Scunthorpe: Bertram's London friend
  • Mr Warkworth: One of Arabella's London suitors
  • Lord "Chuffy" Wivenhoe: Heir to an earldom and an admirer of Bella's
  • Alphonse: One of Mr. Beaumaris' cooks
  • Charles: Mr. Beaumaris' butler
  • Clayton: Mr. Beaumaris' groom
  • Becky: a maid in Lady Bridlington's household
  • Dowager Duchess of Wigan: Mr. Beaumaris' grandmothersudbu
  • Jemmy: A climbing boy (climbs chimneys for chimney-sweeps)
Show all 31 characters
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Setting & Locations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

The schoolroom in the Parsonage at Heythram was not a large apartment, but on a bleak January day, in a household where the consumption of coals was a consideration, this was not felt by its occupants to be a disadvantage.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 16 of 34 in Georgette Heyer Regency Romances in Order of Release Date. (community list)

Preceded by The Foundling, and followed by The Grand Sophy.

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

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Georgette Heyer (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Stella Cameron (Foreword)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: G. P. Putnam
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1949
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 284

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PZ3.H514 Ar PR6015.E795
  • Dewey: 813

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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