The Masqueraders
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| The Masqueraders | |
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| Author | Georgette Heyer |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Georgian, Romance |
| Publisher | William Heinemann |
| Publication date | 1928 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 304 pp |
| ISBN | NA |
The Masqueraders is a 1928 novel written by Georgette Heyer. It is set in Britain at a time shortly after the 1745 Rising[1] and is concerned with a family of escaped Jacobites.
[edit] Plot summary
In order to escape exposure as former Jacobites, Robin and his sister have exchanged clothes, and Prudence appears to be a tall youth by the name of Peter Merriot escorting his younger, beautiful sister Kate. This scheme was conceived by their father, whom they call "The Old Gentleman."
On their way to London, Prudence and Robin encounter Gregory Markham kidnapping a beautiful heiress named Letitia, who intrigues Robin. Prudence knocks out Markham with her sword hilt, and a friend of Letitia's father, Sir Anthony Fanshawe, arrives on scene to discover that the elopement has already been frustrated.
"Peter" and "Kate" take London's society by storm. Robin takes one night to introduce himself as a man to Letitia, whom "Kate" has befriended, and tells her that he will help her if she should ever need it. Sir Anthony, despite his air of oblivion, is observant and intelligent enough to guess that "Peter" is actually a woman. Having fallen in love with her, he seeks to keep her out of harm and does this by preventing her from duelling Markham's friend, Mr Rensley.
Rensley is the heir to a grand estate and a title--assuming that his long-lost cousin does not show up. Unfortunately for him and the dependent Markham, the long-lost cousin does return to London. Only Prudence, Robin, and Sir Anthony recognize "Lord Barham" as the Merriots' father.
Sir Anthony reveals to Prudence that he knows she is a woman, and proposes marriage. She refuses because she thinks she is not of noble enough blood for Sir Anthony. He applies to her brother (whom he realizes is Letitia's "Unknown" hero) and her father, but is told to bide his time.
Markham, meanwhile, has obtained a document that proves the Old Gentleman a Jacobite, and he attempts blackmail. He obtains a letter that could say Letitia's father is a traitor, and he uses the threat of exposing him to induce her to run away with him again.
The Old Gentleman, however, intended this. He dispatches Robin to kill Markham and further inspire Letitia fall in love with him. Robin does this in an expert piece of fencemanship, but the false description of the "highwayman" Letitia provides matches that of Peter Merriot.
Policemen come to arrest Prudence, who has little choice but to go with them. Sir Anthony hears of this, and he and her father's servant John rescue her. Prudence then relents and agrees to marry Sir Anthony.
Robin realizes that Peter's disappearance will cast suspicion on all of the Merriots, and so "Kate" flees to France until the battle over his father's inheritance is resolved. The Old Gentleman proves conclusively that he is Tremaine of Barham and thus his children are exempt from suspicion. Robin returns and proposes to Letitia, who immediately accepts.
