Black Sheep

My first Georgette Heyer. Begins with a spinster and ends with a kidnapping and a kiss. Hilarious at times, especially during conversations between Abby and Miles.
Basically, Miss Abby comes back from a trip to London town to find her niece being assiduously courted by a young man who has stolen the heart of everyone, including sickly, crotchety Miss Selina, Abby's older sister. And pardon Abby very much, but this young whippersnapper is entirely too good to be true. He's not about to slip off with her young niece if she can help it...and she's even willing to take on eccentric Miles as an ally if she must.

Miles loves plainness, abhors figures of speech, and delights in taking things the wrong way in order to confuse Abigail. He's direct, funny, determined, devoid of family feeling, and absolutely outrageous. Abby is convinced she's an old maid & is determined to save her niece from a fortune-hunter as her contribution to family. When Miles won't help her scare off his nephew, she has to look for other methods. It's hard to concentrate, though, with Miles distracting her....