While reading Cotillion by Georgette Heyer I wondered: What is a cotillion? I don’t remember once coming across the word in all 482 pages of this Regency romance. So I looked it up. Cotillion, which is a noun, comes from an old French word for a petticoat and is a formal ball in which young women are presented to society as well as being a dance with many steps. Thanks Ask.com!

Now the title makes sense. But not knowing the definition didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this wonderful, historical light-hearted escapade, which comes complete with gorgeous fashion descriptions, something that Jane Austen didn’t always include. I have to admit that I’ve got a soft spot the size of Texas when it comes to a good Regency romance and Cotillion is definitely one of those.  

Cotillion contains all those elements which are essential for good dramatic romance. It also helps that Heyer threw in a good dose of tongue-in-cheek humor, a ton of witty dialogue, and delightfully awkward situations to which her characters fall prey. Why hasn’t this been made into a movie yet?  

Kitty Charing is dependant on her Great-Uncle Matthew’s kindness, except that the two are not really related. Never the less it is Kitty who will inherit his vast fortune. Provided, of course, that she marries one of his many nephews. But Uncle Matthew has a favorite amongst his relatives and already has a beau in mind for his ward as well as his money.

Jack, a charming handsome man about town, knows that he is his Uncle’s favorite and is sure of Kitty’s affection. But when this certain young gentleman fails to answer Uncle Matthew’s summons and snubs Kitty she hatches a daring plan.  

Why should Kitty be forced to marry? She only has to become engaged to one of her cousins to make Uncle Matthew happy and escape to London for a month. It doesn’t mean she must marry the cousin she becomes engaged to. Young and confident in her own attractions, Kitty is sure that she will take London by storm and make Jack horribly jealous in the process.