The tale of managing Sophy and masterful Charles
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The intriguing Sophia Stanton-Lacy is one unconventional heroine. Travelling all over Continental Europe, from the glittering ballrooms of Vienna to the grim battlefields in Spain, she has been raised by a laidback father who pretty much lets her go her own way. And goes her own way, she does.
From keeping opportunistic, money-grubbing females away from her charming, hapless father to managing all her numerous friends' little affairs ( even ruthlessly arranging the affairs of a most bewildered family of Belgians ), Sophy manages to while away her time abroad. Her frank, original ways have earned her the sobriquet of The Grand Sophy.
When her father is commissioned and sent to Brazil, Sophy is sent to her paternal aunt, Lady Ombersley, to be brought out in London. Poor Sophy arrives with all expectation of being utterly bored but is pleasantly surprised at the unusual situation in which she finds herself.
The Rivenhall household is not in the best of situations. As the father of the house is an improvident and lackadaisical gentleman, the position of family head seems to have been usurped by the eldest son, the forceful Charles Rivenhall. To make matters worst, Charles seems to be bent on making a disastrous match with the most prosy female Sophy has ever met, The Hon. Eugenia Wraxton. Her cousin, the utterly lovely and helpless Miss Cecilia had refused a most excellent suitor, Lord Charlbury, and had fallen hopelessly in love with an utterly unsuitable parti, the dreamy, extremely handsome poet named Augustus Fawnhope ( who has a head like a Greek coin ). Even her cousin Hubert seemed to be involved in a foolish scrape. Difficult though the tasks may be, the dauntless Sophy knew what had to be done!
In the beginning, Charles is at first inclined to like her open, frank disposition but soon their differing opinions put them at loggerheads with one another. The opinionated Sophy soon makes it clear that she's promoting Cecilia's hopeless fling with Fawnhope ... when in reality, she is actually working hand in glove with the worthy Everard Charlbury to win the beautiful Cecy's heart. The wily lady works towards making the gorgeous but addlepated Fawnhope look hopelessly outclassed by the sweet, sensible Charlbury.
Not forgetting Charles' impending nuptials, Sophy lays out plans to be rid of his tiresomely virtuous fiancee, Ms. Wraxton ( whom Sophy is convinced will wreck utter havoc in the Rivenhall home if brought into the family ). She finds it comparatively easy as Ms. Wraxton is immediately affronted by Sophy's unconventional manners.
Aside from her ruthless matchmaking, Sophy even manages to foil a wretched moneylender's schemes, dance around a most troublesome ( and unwanted ) suitor and also nurse an ailing girl back to health ( thus proving her worth to the Rivenhall household ).
With a grand manner, Sophy proves that she is unbeatable. Her quick mind immediately sees the solutions to all the minor problems and she sets out to solve them. Firmly and without fuss, this managing lady soon puts all the problems in the family to rest. The only question was how she was going to deal with the immovable Charles Rivenhall?
Sophy has to be one of the most original of Heyer's heroines. Totally daring and utterly shameless, she plans out her strategies of war and zealously carries them out. Like a little general, she eliminates her foes and calls upon her allies ( such as the friendly Mr. Wychbold ) to come to her aid when she needs them. Even the hapless Charlbury who is hopelessly embroiled in her plots can do nothing but admire her skills.
A little like Emma with a lot more force! And a lot less compunctions!
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