Spoilers ahead.
It’s time for a very domestic story in this episode as we quietly cheer on the growing closeness between lovelorn Adam and the ever-practical Jenny.
Jenny might be the least likely heroine in the Heyerverse but she marries a man hopelessly in love with another, just because it’s the only thing she can do to help him. That makes her a hero in our eyes - although we could wish she set a slightly lower standard in wifely behaviour, because she’s making the rest of us look bad.
She certainly makes a better wife than Julia - the ethereal beauty who swoons at parties, and pointedly sings sentimental songs at a married man. Rockhill deserves better, but evidently even clever men are susceptible to fleeting beauty (the Mrs Bennet effect).
But not only are we treated to the bittersweet, and often unflinchingly honest, relationship between Adam and Jenny, we also have the absolute delight of Jonathan Chawleigh - a self-made man with a tendency to show up with a lobster for his hostess. He’s such a juicy character, and the contrast this forceful and emotional family man presents against the restrained and cool Lyntons gives a fascinating insight into class and family life.
All-in-all it’s a complex and subtle story, so we stubbornly make no apologies for the run time of this episode - we were having a ball!
“But I was never one for reading those old romances and legends that Julia dotes on,’ said Jenny apologetically. ‘I do know that he likes his eggs boiled for four minutes exactly, and won’t touch muffins.”
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Twitter: @heyerpodcast
Ep 34 - Cotillion
Ep 33 - Sprig Muslin
Ep 32 - The Toll-Gate
Ep 31 - Lady of Quality
Ep 30 - The Corinthian
Ep 29 - The Spanish Bride
Ep 28 - The Nonesuch
Ep 27 - Powder and Patch
Ep 26 - The Quiet Gentleman
Ep 25 - An Infamous Army
Ep 24 - The Masqueraders
Ep 23 - Charity Girl
Ep 22 - Cousin Kate
Ep 20 - Faro‘s Daughter
Ep 19 - False Colours
Ep 18 - Venetia
Ep17 - The Reluctant Widow
Ep 16 - The Convenient Marriage
Ep 15 - The Talisman Ring
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