This is the second Georgette Heyer novel I’ve read. The first was Sylvester which I liked a lot. Sadly, I couldn’t stand this one. Maybe I’m just in a really bad mood today but I was bored by the storyline and I found the characters irritating, histrionic, and forgettable. I did not like Léonie at all. I found her to be gaggingly naïve and open (she was often at times "consciously naïve" as Simon from I Capture the Castle would say.) Her utter adoration for zee Duke of Avon seemed groundless. Okay, good for him for rescuing her but still, he didn’t deserve the god-like status she gave him. Of course, I’m not sure why everyone thought of him as the devil. He didn’t seem anywhere near that bad. Annoying, on the other hand, yes.
I am not giving up, though! I will try to read more Georgette Heyer since I did enjoy Sylvester. These Old Shades just rubbed me the wrong way.