Heyer Heroes

My two favourite Heyer heroes could not be more different. So much so that I decided to do a direct comparison between them.

Book
Set in (approx.)
Heroine
Hero's age 
Physical appearance





























Known as
Prospects


Home


Most likely to utter
Reputation
Memorable lines




















































Proposal

The Honourable Freddy Standen
Cotillion
1816
Kitty Charing
21 (approx.)
…none but a regular Dash, patronizing the most exclusive of tailors, could have presented himself in so exquisitely moulded a riding-coat, such peerless breeches, or such effulgent top-boots. The white tops of these, which incontrovertibly proclaimed his dandyism, were hidden by the folds of a very long and voluminous driving-coat, lined with silk, embellished with several shoulder-capes, and secured across his chest by a double row of very large buttons of mother of pearl. Upon his brown locks, carefully anointed with Russian oil, and cropped a la Titus, he wore a high-crowned beaver-hat, set at an exact angle between the rakish and the precise; on his hands were gloves of York tan; under one arm he carried a malacca cane. When he strolled into the inn, and shed the somewhat deceptive driving-coat, he was seen to be a slender young gentleman, of average height and graceful carriage. His countenance was unarresting, but amiable; and a certain vagueness characterized his demeanor. 
A Pink of the Ton
Heir to Lord Legerwood, will inherit a large fortune 

His London lodgings and his father's estate

“Dash it all, Kit!”

Impeccable
‘The lost bride of Netherby ne’er did they see! So daring in love, and so dauntless in war. Have ye e’er heard of a gallant like young Lochinvar?’
‘Sounds to me like a dashed loose-screw,’ said Freddy disapprovingly.

Freddy, who had been surveying her with an expression on his face of strong disapproval, said despairingly: 'Pink! Dashed if I know why it is, but a female's only got to have a yaller head, and nothing will do for her but to wear pink! Can't be surprised Buckahaven's gone to China, can you?'

'Seems a good enough sort of a fellow,' Freddy said cautiously. 'Mind, I didn't like his waistcoat, but then, I don't like yours either, coz, so I daresay it don't signify.'

Freddy looked pleased. ‘Elegant little thing, ain’t she?’ His brow clouded. ‘Shouldn’t have worn those topazes, though. Wouldn’t let me give her a set of garnets. Pity!’

‘I do think,’ said Kitty fervently, ‘that Freddy is the most truly chivalrous person imaginable!’
Freddy’s sister, regarding her with awe, opened her mouth, shut it again, swallowed, and managed to say, though in a faint voice: ‘Do you, indeed?’

‘You would say – un enlevement?’
Freddy sighed. ‘No, I wouldn’t. Keep telling you I don’t speak French.’

‘… you laid the cleverest trap for Freddy that I have ever been privileged to see! You cunning little jade!’
It was at this point that Mr Standen, that most exquisite of Pinks, astounded the assembled company, himself included, by knocking him down.
‘You don’t feel you could marry me instead? Got no brains, of course, and I ain’t a handsome fellow like, Jack, but I love you. Don’t think I could ever love anyone else. Daresay it ain’t any use telling you, but – well, there it is!’

Jasper, Lord Damerel

Venetia
1818
Venetia Lanyon
38
She was not acquainted with many men of mode, but although he was dressed like any country gentleman a subtle difference hung about his buckskins and his coat of dandy gray russet. No provincial tailor had fashioned them, and no country beau could have worn them with such careless elegance. He was taller than Venetia had at first supposed, rather loose-limbed, and he bore himself with a suggestion of swashbuckling arrogance. As he advanced upon her Venetia perceived that he was dark, his countenance lean and rather swarthy, marked with lines of dissipation. A smile was curling his lips, but Venetia thought she had never seen eyes so cynically bored.

Then, as she stared into his eyes she saw them smiling yet fierce, and a line of Byron’s flashed into her head. There was a laughing devil in his sneer.




The Wicked Baron
Has squandered his fortune and come home to avoid his creditors
The Priory


A Shakespearean quotation

Scandalous
‘Fair Fatality, you are the most unusual female I have encountered in all my thirty-eight years!’

‘Beyond my gates I make you no promises: don’t trust me! Within them –‘ He paused, his smile twisting into something not quite a sneer yet derisive. ‘Oh, within them,’ he said in brittle self-mockery, ‘I’ll remember that I was bred a gentleman!’

‘I’ve seldom been here myself. But I prefer the nearer prospect.’
‘Do you? Just green trees?’
‘No, a green girl. That is why I’ve remained here. Had you forgotten?’

‘I might fall out of love as easily as I fell into it: that wouldn’t amaze you, would it?’

‘What were you doing when you were nine years old, my love?' he asked.
It was so unexpected that she could only blink.
‘Tell me!’
‘I don’t know! Learning lessons, and sewing samplers, I suppose – and what in the world has that to say to anything?’
‘A great deal. Do you know what I was doing at that date?’
‘No, how should I? I don’t even know how old you were – at least, not without doing sums, which I abominate. Well, if you are eight-and-thirty now, and I am five-and-twenty –‘
‘I’ll spare you the trouble: I was two-and-twenty, and seducing a married lady of quality.’
‘So you were!’ she agreed affably.

‘If the gods would annihilate but space and time – but they won’t, Venetia, they won’t!’  


‘Well, my dear delight?’ he returned, a glint in his eyes.
‘Do you think you will make me unhappy?’
‘I don’t – but I will offer you no promises!’