The Scarlet Pimpernel #8: Lord Tony’s Wife

This was the sixth Scarlet Pimpernel novel written, however, it is the eighth in the series if read chronologically. It should be read after THE ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL and before THE WAY OF THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. The year is 1780 and Pierre Adet, a young French peasant, is incensed at the unfair treatment of the local peasantry, who are no more better off than slaves to the local aristo. His brother-in-law is about to be hanged for poaching two pigeons from the woods belonging to the Duc de Kernogan in Nantes and this proves the final straw. After months of planning Pierre leads a mob against the Duc against the advice of his father. Before the mob have had the chance to storm the Chateau, they come across the Duc's daughter Yvonne returning home and attack her carriage. Shortly afterwards the Duc's private army arrive and dispatch the mob. Adet is seriously injured and seeks refuge from a local priest before fleeing Nantes and the death sentence which has been passed on him. Determined that someone must pay for the incident, the Duc de Kernogan ensures that Pierre's father is hanged for his son's crime. By the time Pierre finds out it is too late and he is driven to seek revenge against the Duc and his daughter. It's now 1793 and Adet is living in England under the alias of Martin-Roget. He has spent the intervening years educating himself and with the aid of an introductory letter, obtained by blackmailing the Bishop of Brest, has ingratiated himself into English society -- to the extent that he has gained the favour of the Duc de Kernogan (who is now living near Bath) and is Yvonne's favoured suitor. Needless to say, both Yvonne and her father are ignorant of Martin-Roget's true identity and are unaware that he is seeking revenge.