ROYAL FLUSH

A penniless aristocrat has a wild adventure in the Highlands of Scotland.

Lady Georgiana Rannoch, 34th in line to the throne of King George V, is forced to return to Scotland from the family’s London house after a badly worded advertisement makes her sound like a prostitute. Rescued from a sleazy nightclub by Darcy O’Mara, the man she loves but seldom sees, Georgiana is sent home to Castle Rannoch, from which Scotland Yard has asked her to keep an eye on the Royal Family, who are staying at Balmoral for the hunting season. Her usually cold sister-in-law Fig greets her with delight. Georgiana’s brother Binky is laid up after almost losing a foot in a trap, and the frugal Fig has been forced to play host to a group of complaining American visitors, including the notorious Mrs. Simpson and the husband she has in tow. Upon her arrival, Georgiana notes that a suspicious number of accidents seem to be plaguing the Royals. Even Georgiana is shot at while riding with Princess Elizabeth. Although a number of friends and her rarely seen mother are in the neighborhood, no one but Darcy can help Georgiana when a member of the hunting party is shot dead. The too-trusting Georgiana narrowly escapes death when she discovers the identity of the killer.

Fans of Georgette Heyer will enjoy the nice mix of romance and mystery in Georgiana’s third adventure (A Royal Pain, 2008, etc.) from the period between the wars.