The Quiet Gentleman (Heyer novel)

First edition cover.

The Quiet Gentleman is a novel by Georgette Heyer about an earl's firstborn son who became estranged from his father as a young boy after the mother ran off with another man, was reared by his maternal grandmother, and spent years serving in the military during the Napoleonic wars. A year after the war has ended and the father has passed away, the son arrives to claim the ancient rambling castle of the earldom. His stepmother and her son, a hot-tempered teenage half-brother, have spent their entire lives at the castle, where they were accustomed to living as rulers-in-waiting, doubting that the firstborn son would survive the bloody war. Also living there is a first cousin who has managed the estate in the earl's absence. The earl takes up residence in the castle, urging his relations to continue on as before, and leaving his cousin in charge of running the estate. The stepmother also has a noble houseguest, an unassuming female who first comes to the earl's attention when she mediates his stepmother's sneaky resistance to small changes in the household. The guest is the well-born daughter of intellectuals, makes no attempts to lure the young Earl, and startles him with her calm air of assurance and knowledge of unexpected things.

The young earl, who has led a charmed life until this point, has a suspicious riding accident, discovers a secret passage leading into his bedroom, and survives being shot after his life is saved by quick action on the part of the female guest. She then assists the earl's valet in nursing the earl back to health. The earl makes a big push to discover which of his cantankerous relations wants him dead. The young lady is alarmed by the earl's absence and has an accident herself. Her parents arrive, planning to take her home. Having discreetly resolved the plan to kill him, the young earl arrives back just in time to reveal his affection for the young lady and persuade her parents to let them marry.

Leading characters

• Male lead: Gervase Frant (Earl of St Erth)
• Female lead: Drusilla Morville (a noble houseguest of the earl's stepmother)
• Martin Frant, Gervase' younger half-brother
• Theo Frant, Gervase' first cousin

A brief writing sample

The following passage occurs soon after the young earl comes to realize that the undemanding female friend of his difficult stepmother is adept in smoothing over various possible thorns in household relationships:

'I conclude,' said Gervase, a good deal amused, 'that your Mama is of a practical disposition?'

'Oh, no!' replied Miss Morville serenely. 'That is why she did not wish to form one of the colony. She has no Turn for domestic duties: Mama is an Authoress. She has written several novels, and numerous articles and treatises...and she holds views, which are thought to be very advanced, on Female Education.'

'And have you been reared according to these views?' enquired Gervase, in some misgiving.

'No, for Mama has been so fully occupied in prescribing for the education of females in general that naturally she has had little time to spare for her own children. Moreover, she is a person of excellent sense, and, mortifying though it has been to her, she has not hesitated to acknowledge that neither I nor my elder brother is in the least bookish.'

'A blow!' commented the Earl.

'Yes, but she has sustained it with fortitude, and we have great hopes that my younger brother, who is now at Cambridge, will be distinguished. And after all, there must be someone in a household who does not dislike domestic management.'

'Is that your fate, Miss Morville?' the Earl asked, rather touched. 'Is your life spent in these rural fastnesses, performing a housekeeper's duties? I pity you!'

'Well, you need not,' returned Miss Morville unromantically. 'We are only to be found in Lincolnshire when Papa requires quiet for the performance of his labours. In general, we reside in London, so that Mama may enjoy the benefits of literary society.'

'Forgive me, ma'am, if I say this it sounds to me like a dead bore!'

'Oh, yes, to those who are not bookish, it is!' agreed Miss Morville. 'When in London, I spend much of my time in the company of my aunt, Lady Morville, and my cousins. Parties, and theatres, you know, for they are always very gay, and most good-natured in including me in their schemes. My aunt even undertook my presentation last year..."

First published in 1951, The Quiet Gentleman is one of Heyer's signature Regency romances that also includes mystery and suspense. It is estimated to take place in the spring of 1816 after the Battle of Waterloo. An ebook of this novel can be borrowed via OverDrive.