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Spoiler alert!

It’s cold and dark here in London so the perfect time to get a little gothic with Cousin Kate. It doesn’t seem to be a universally popular novel, but we tapped into our inner torment and really enjoyed it. We will acknowledge however that this isn’t the most comfortable of reads - what with all the violent deaths and animal cruelty.

In this episode we talk about the chilling gothic elements in this story, and how the ratcheting tension is cut through with the refreshingly straight-talking Nidd family, and the absolutely charming love story (with a real cracker of a proposal scene).

Everyone falls under the spell of Kate Malvern of course. She’s an intrepid heroine who grew up following the drum, isn’t above working to support herself, and is quite capable of slapping her employer’s lecherous relative. And Philip, with his loyalty and kindness, proves himself worthy of her.

Minerva, Torquil and Sir Tim on the other hand are much more dubious figures (unless you’ve got more sympathy for Sir Timothy than we have). Machiavellian machinations and murder galore in that unhappy little triumvirate. We end up discussing whether Sir Tim had a happier ending than he deserved, and how Heyer forces us to feel sympathy for Torquil.

And then there’s Minerva - you know we love dissecting a good baddie, and she certainly gives us plenty to get our teeth into.

“He addressed himself to Kate, saying, in his stateliest manner: ‘I beg your pardon, miss, but since her ladyship is unwell I feel it my duty to inform you that Mrs Thorne has seen fit to Prophesy!’”

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