Faro's Daughter

by Georgette Heyer

Paperback, 259 pages

English language

Published June 3, 2004 by ARROW (RAND).

ISBN:: 978-0-09-946559-1
OCLC Number:: 56440965

(6 reviews)

Skilled in the art of card playing, Deborah Grantham, a gambler's daughter, uses that skill as her sole means of support as mistress of her aunt's elegant and exclusive gaming club in 18th-century London. The beautiful young must find a way to restore herself and her aunt to respectability, preferably without accepting either of two repugnant offers. One is from an older, very rich and rather corpulent lord whose reputation for licentious behavior disgusts her; the other from the young, puppyish scion of a noble family whose relatives are convinced she is a fortune hunter.

Lady Mablethorpe was aghast. Her young son, Adrian wanted to get married Miss Deborah Grantham--a gambling-club wench! Thus she sent her trusted nephew, the vastly wealthy, clever, and imperturbable Max Ravenscar, speeding to the faro tables to buy the hussy off. A renowned gamester, and the first to own that he is untroubled by a …

To Ravenscar's surprise, Deb turned out to be besides remarkably handsome, witty, and--he could scarcely believe it--well-bred. Nevertheless, he expected she'd be grateful far the price he offered to give up her young suitor. Arrogant Ravenscar always gets his way and comes to buy her off, an insult so scathing that it leads to a volley of passionate reprisals, escalating between them to a level of flair and fury that can only have one conclusion. As they lock horns, they become increasingly drawn to each other. Amidst all the misunderstandings and entanglements, has Ravenscar finally met his match?

25 editions

LemonSky reviewed Faro's daughter by Georgette Heyer

Review of "Faro's daughter" on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

One of my favorite Heyers. No one writes better regencies than Georgette Heyer.

Deborah "Deb" Grantham makes a living running a gaming house with her aunt and her old friend (purely platonic) Lucius Kennet. Beautiful, charming, intelligent, and an expert gambler, Deb has many suitors for her hand, the most determined of which is young Adrian Mablethorpe. Though Adrian is wealthy and completely besotted with her, Deb is not interested in him in the least. He's immature, naive, and younger than she is. However, Adrian is convinced he will win her over. When his mother, Lady Mablethorpe, learns of Adrian's attentions, she is horrified, not only by his choice of bride, but also because she intends for him to marry his wealthy - and equally foolish - cousin Arabella. Lady Mablethorpe calls on her nephew, the formidable Max Ravenscar, to do something about the situation. Max assumes he can just throw some money at Deb and she will break things off with Adrian. However, Deb is deeply insulted by Max's offer and his attitude - and so a war of wills begins.

This is what a regency should be - funny, charming, enjoyable, and full of period detail. Max and Deb's little battle gets laugh out loud funny with just enough tension (supplied by Deb's unpleasant suitor, Lord Ormskirk)to keep things moving.