Line #14 Literature/Cotillion


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cotillion.jpg]]
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3	''Cotillion'' is a 1952 [[HistoricalFiction historical romance]] novel by Creator/GeorgetteHeyer. It's notable for being her most light-hearted romance novel.
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5	Kitty Charing's eccentric guardian Uncle Matthew decides to name Kitty his heiress, but only if she marries one of his many great-nephews. Kitty is in love with Jack, Uncle Matthew's favourite great-nephew, but Jack doesn't want to get married yet. Then she receives a series of proposals from most unsuitable men before meeting another great-nephew, Freddy, and convinces him to propose to her. She hopes that Jack will become jealous upon hearing of her engagement and will marry her after all. What could possibly go wrong?
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7	!!Contains examples of:
8	%%* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Subverted.
9	* BettyAndVeronica: [[spoiler: Freddy is Betty and Jack is Veronica for Kitty]].
10	* CampStraight: Freddy, who is not TheCasanova, cares deeply about fashion, and is very fastidious about rules of proper conduct. He is considered so safe for women that men don't mind him being around their wives and Kitty uses him as her fake fiancé, knowing that he won't take advantage of this and want to marry her himself. [[spoiler:But he is certainly straight, and becomes protective of her to the point of violence, which shocks everybody he knows, and eventually falls in love with her.]]
11	* ChasteHero: Freddy. Often mistaken by readers as latent or closeted homosexual (see above) [[http://www.tor.com/2012/03/20/qit-wont-do-you-knowq-georgette-heyers-cotillion/]], but as a matter of fact there is no sign of his being attracted to anybody [[spoiler: until Kitty comes along, of course.]] He is, because of this trope, considered so harmless, that other men don't mind him spending time with their wives.
12	* ConvertingForLove: It's mentioned in passing that [[spoiler:Olivia]] will probably have to become a Catholic to marry [[spoiler:Camille]].
13	* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: [[spoiler: Freddy may be a trifle slow, and he is neither tall or strong like his cousin Jack, but when the stronger, taller and rakish Jack calls Kitty a jade, Freddy punches him right in the face.]]
14	%%* GeniusDitz: Freddy.
15	* GrandRomanticGesture: Parodied: Camille makes extravagant proclamations of what he would do to save Olivia, but is surprised when practical Freddy suggests [[spoiler:simply eloping with her]]. Also played subtly straight with Freddy submitting to a day of sightseeing with Kitty.
16	* HandsOnApproach: Freddy and Kitty dancing.
17	* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Freddy tries to do this for Kitty, despite [[spoiler:genuine reservations about Jack beyond simple jealousy]].
18	* KickTheDog: Jack [[spoiler:blackmails]] Camille and [[spoiler:insults]] Freddy.
19	%%* LoveAtFirstSight: [[spoiler:Camille and Olivia.]]
20	* LovingAShadow: Kitty's realisation that [[spoiler:she only ever loved her childhood hero, not Jack himself]].
21	* MasqueradeBall: Kitty has a miserable time at one of these until Freddy rescues her.
22	* OperationJealousy: Kitty tries one of these on [[spoiler:Jack]].
23	%%* PoirotSpeak: Camille.
24	%%* ProfessionalGambler: Jack, [[spoiler:Camille.]]
25	* ReformedRakes: Subverted: [[spoiler:not only is Jack not planning to reform for Kitty's sake, he's actively trying to seduce a friend of hers while courting her]].
26	* RegencyEngland: The book is set in 1816.
27	%%* RomanticFakeRealTurn: [[spoiler: Kitty and Freddy]].
28	* RunawayFiance: Sort of: Kitty is running away from the ''possibility'' of being forced into an engagement to please her guardian, before coming up with a better plan.
29	* SecretRelationship: Freddy and Kitty pretend to have one of these.
30	* SubvertedTrope: [[spoiler: Jack is in many ways a classic Heyer hero--dashing, interesting, capable, a bit cruel, a possible ReformedRakes--and Freddy is a classic Heyer sidekick--friendly, camp, a bit ineffectual. But this time it is the sidekick, Freddy, who gets the girl, and Jack is positioned as an asshole]]
31	%%* WrongGuyFirst

Context Literature / Cotillion