Devil's Cub

Plot summary

The son of the Duke and Duchess of Avon, the Marquis of Vidal is known as Devil's Cub not only for the excesses of his father but for his own wild habits. As he is paying court to a girl of the bourgeoisie, Sophia Challoner, he also participates in a rather impromptu duel, the outcome of which forces him to leave the country. He intends to bring Sophia with him as his mistress: but her strait-laced sister Mary has no intention of allowing her sister to be ruined, and takes her place, assuming that the Marquis will let her go once the mistake is discovered, leaving him with no chance to take Sophia afterwards. But she has not yet obtained the measure of the Marquis's personality, for in the grip of fury he takes Mary off with him instead, and only when they are in France and it is too late for either to turn back does he realise that by abducting a respectable girl he has compromised her and is obliged to offer her marriage.

However, Mary refuses Vidal because she believes he is making the offer from guilt and as she has fallen in love with him she finds this intolerable. In her misery, she runs away, intending to seek her own fortune. While away, she meets Vidal's father, the Duke of Avon, by chance, and takes him into her confidence without realising that she is talking to Avon - who is an old crony of her grandfather's and has come to France to investigate the rumours surrounding his son and scotch any scandal. The two reach an excellent understanding, with Avon clearly coming to respect Mary.

Vidal pursues, and ultimately realizes he loves her, persuading her to marry him — in spite of Avon's dry observation that she could do better.

Heyer's An Infamous Army is a sequel to Devil's Cub.

Characters

Lord Dominic Alistair, Marquis of Vidal - son and heir to the Duke of Avon, educated at Eton

Miss Sophia Challoner - Vidal's latest flirt

Miss Mary Challoner - elder sister of Sophia, 20, educated at a select seminary for ladies with Miss Juliana Marling at her grandfather's, General Challoner, expense, the object of her cousin Joshua's attention

Mrs Clara Simpkins Challoner - their mother, a widow of a gentleman, sister of a rich Cit

Mr Henry & Joshua Simpkins - brother and nephew of Mrs Challoner

Lady Fanny Alistair Marling - sister of the Duke of Avon

Mr John Marling - Lady Fanny's son

Miss Juliana Marling - Lady Fanny's daughter

Mr Frederick Cummin - aspirant to Juliana's hand

Hugh Davenant - friend of Lord Justin Alistair

His Grace Justin Alistair, Duke of Avon - father of Vidal, a reformed rake and 'devil'

Her Grace Leonie de St Vire Alistair, Duchess of Avon - mother of Vidal, a French aristocrat

Lord Rupert Alistair - brother of Lord Justin Alistair

Tante Elizabeth -

Mr Montague Quayles - fights a duel with Vidal

Mr Timms - Vidal's valet

Mr Fletcher Vidal's Majordomo

Armand de St Vire - Vidal's great uncle

Bertrand de St Vire - Vidal's cousin

Mr Hammond - an English divine

Monsieur Plancon - proprietor of the Coq d'Or, an Inn at Calais