Venetia is a 1958 historical romance novel by Georgette Heyer.
Venetia Lanyon has grown up in the country, away from world with only her over-protective father and scholarly brother from company. Then she meets and falls in love with Lord Damerel, and discovers a family scandal.
Contains examples of:
- Annoying Younger Sibling: Aubrey to an extent, although Conway is far worse despite never actually appearing.
- Beneath the Mask: Damerel has thrown himself into the lifestyle of a rake after ruining his own reputation through a youthful mistake, but Venetia gets to see a different side of him.
- Brother–Sister Team: Aubrey and Venetia have elements of this.
- Byronic Hero: Damerel is this.
- Cool Big Sis: Venetia.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Damerel.
- Double Standard: Played with; Damerel arguably suffered more for running off with a married woman than she did.
- Emo Teen: Oswald, who desperately wishes he was a Byronic Hero."He is brooding over nameless crimes, I daresay, and only think how disheartening to have his dark thoughts mistaken for a fit of the sulks!"
- Faking the Dead: Venetia's mother ran off with a lover and was divorced by her father; he told the children that she had died suddenly.
- Forceful Kiss: Oswald tries this on Venetia.
- The Ghost: Conway is often talked about, and various of his offstage actions are important to the plot, but he never appears.
- Head-Turning Beauty: Venetia, and also her mother.
- It's Not You, It's My Enemies: Damerel sends Venetia away due to the irreparable damage that would be done to her reputation if they married.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Damerel pretends that his flirtation with Venetia had only been a pleasant game, and makes her leave, because he thinks she deserves better than him, and because of his reputation (see above).
- Moment Killer: Every time Damerel tries to propose to Venetia, Aubrey pops up.
- Nobody Thinks It Will Work: Everyone, with the exception of Aubrey and Venetia—and including Damerel—thinks Damerel and Venetia will be miserable together.
- Obnoxious In-Laws: An inversion of sorts, as it is Conway's new mother-in-law who makes things miserable for Venetia when she moves in.
- Pair the Spares: It's hinted that Edward Yardley and Clara Denny will probably marry after being rejected by Venetia and Conway, respectively.
- Reformed Rakes: Played with more than used straight. Damerel won't seduce Venetia, but it's up to interpretation how much his way of life will change. He might just be joking about having his wife preside over an orgy...
