more heyer! again

I thought I would not be able to get through The Nonesuch because the hero's name is Waldo (All I can think of is "Where's Waldo?," not some paragon of athletic prowess, when I see that name) and because a very spoiled brat features prominently in the story, but I did manage to get through AND enjoy it. Sir Waldo is a rich guy who inherits a run-down estate from an eccentric relative. He visits the estate with his young cousin Lord Lindeth. The neighborhood is excited about the presence of such a famous (in London) figure, and they throw tons of balls, parties, etc. The undisputed beauty of the area is Tiffany, an orphaned heiress who is unbelievably selfish and spoiled. She lives with her aunt and uncle and cousins who can't manage her at all. The only person who can is Miss Trent, her "governess/companion." Miss Trent was born into a good family without a lot of money who had decided to work for a living instead of marry someone she didn't care for. Young Lord Lindeth falls for the gorgeous Tiffany, but Miss Trent and Sir Waldo do their best to manage the spoiled brat and prevent Lindeth from getting serious with her while also falling in love themselves.

Tiffany is incredibly spoiled and very irritating, but she gets what's coming to her in the book. Her tantrums end up repelling everyone, even her admirers. And Sir Waldo manipulates her into showing her bad side by playing with her, alternately flirting with her and treating her more sternly. Miss Trent also has to resort to unconventional methods to contain/divert the brat. I didn't find the romance particularly satisfying, though the anguish brought out in Miss Trent because of the difference in her and Sir Waldo's situation was for the most part nicely done.

Black Sheep is very similar to A Lady of Quality (it came first, though, so I suppose I should say LoQ is similar to BH?) in that it is about a single lady living in Bath who comes to know the disreputable uncle of someone she has to deal with and falls in love with him. BS, however, contains more shadiness. LoQ's disreputable uncle has some politeness issues and is known for his extravagant mistresses, but BS's uncle was actually sent away to India by his father for his follies. And in BS the uncle is an uncle to a shitty fortune-hunter nephew who is scheming to marry the lady's heiress niece. LoQ's uncle is an uncle to an innocent niece running away from attempts to pressure her into marrying. I particularly liked how ruthless BS got at the end. Not overly so (not in the grand These Old Shades or The Black Moth way), but enough.

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