The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer

The seventeenth-century inn was to be their home for some weeks while they looked about the neighbourhood for a long-term rental. She was quite half a head shorter than her sisters, and, at the age of seventeen, was obliged regretfully to admit that she was not likely to grow any taller.The Sussex Oak in Warnham where Georgette Heyer began writing The Convenient Marriage.īy May 1933, Georgette and Ronald, with baby Richard, had left Southover, their rented house in Colgate, and moved into the Sussex Oak in Warnham, a couple of miles from Horsham. No amount of careful training would induce an arch in them.

Her hair was dark, her eyes a profound grey, and her brows, nearly black and rather thick, were quite straight, and gave her a serious, almost frowning, expression. Miss Horatia, the youngest of the three, had nothing that declared her lineage except her nose. Hef curls, not quite so fair as her sisters, owed their existence to hot irons, her eyes were of a shallower blue, and her coloring inclined towards the sallow but she was allowed to be a very well-looking young lady. Miss Charlotte was not seen to advantage beside the Beauty of the Family, but she was a true Winwood, with the famous straight nose and the same blue eyes. They were much alike, but Miss Winwood was held to be the greater beauty. Upon a faded yellow satin sopha sat Miss Winwood and Miss Charlotte, their arms entwined about each other’s waists. The three Misses Winwood were grouped by the window, presenting an artless and agreeable picture. She tapped with her gloved hand on one of the panels of the door and entered on the echo of her knock. The small saloon.īy which name the porter designated a back sitting-room given over to the use of the young ladies, lay up to one pair of stairs, and was well known to Mrs. She would be ashamed for her part of such old-fashioned furnishings.īut although she claimed cousinship, she was not, she admitted to herself, a Winwood of Winwood. She reflected, not for the first time, that the stairway was too narrow, and the carpet positively shabby. Maulfrey nodded and walked across the hall with a click of her high heels.Īs she ascended the stairs her amazing skirts, spread over very large paniers à codes, brushed the banisters on either side of her. Maulfrey stepped into the dim hall, and said briskly: “Where is Miss Winwood? You need not be at the trouble of announcing me.”Īll the young ladies, it seemed, were in the small saloon.

Directing the coachman of her extremely smart town carriage to wait for her. In face of the rumor which had come to her ears, it would be too provoking if all the Winwood ladies were to withhold themselves.īut the porter held the door fully open and said that Miss Winwood was at home. LADY WINWOOD being denied, the morning caller inquired with some anxiety for Miss Winwood, or, in fact, for any of the young ladies.

The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer