The Talisman Ring

 

By Georgette Heyer

A Regency Romance.

Ludovic is the disgraced grandson of a wealthy lord. Ludovic is on the run from law, accused of murdering a man over the loss of his family heirloom, the talisman ring. Ludovic is assumed to be on the continent, safe from the English authorities. But one night, his teenage cousin Eustacie, who is running away from a marriage arranged for her, encounters Ludovic on the road. Ludovic is involved with the local smugglers and he and Eustacie have to escape the Excisemen. In the process, Ludovic is wounded. 

Eustacie takes Ludovic to an inn that Ludovic has a good relationship with, since the innkeeper is part of the smuggling ring. The innkeeper treats Ludovic's wound and hides him from the Excisemen who show up at the inn looking for the fugitive.

Staying at the inn is Sarah Thane. Sarah quickly steps in to help Eustacie and Ludovic. Soon after Ludovic is treated and hidden, the man Eustacie was supposed to marry, Sir Tristam, shows up at the inn looking for her. He is surprised when she informs him she ran away because she didn't want to marry him. He reassures her that he has no interest in forcing her into a marriage she doesn't want. Sir Tristam also discovers that his disgraced relative Ludovic is at the inn, wounded and has been spending his time smuggling. 

Ever since the murder, Ludovic, who knows he is innocent, has thought that Tristam was the murderer and that Tristam has the talisman ring because he is a collector of rare and valuable items like the talisman ring. But Tristam thinks that Ludovic is guilty and is surprised to find that he doesn't have the ring at all. It dawns upon them that the true killer is their relative, Basil, who also lives in the area and who also loves to collect valuable and rare items. All they have to do to prove it is find the talisman ring in Basil's possession. 

But to do so means keeping Ludovic hidden while he heals from his wound, not only from the authorities but also from Basil. It also means gaining access to Basil's home and searching for a hidden panel that Ludovic remembers seeing in Basil's house when Ludovic was a youngster. But he can't recall exactly in which room the panel is to be found. Which isn't too helpful of him.

I have read this novel several times over the years and I enjoy it every time. It's fun and exciting and romantic and a bit silly and doesn't make a lot of sense. But it's still engaging and entertaining and it is what I call a keeper, a book I enjoyed reading so much that I know I will enjoy reading it again and again. 

Here is a review by Dear Author.