The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer

I love Georgette Heyer! This one is the first book she wrote and it's about Jack Carstares who is estranged from his family and his country because of something he didn't really do. He has returned to England after years of exile--but instead of returning to his family, he becomes a highwayman. He meets the love of his life, Diana, when he rescues her from being kidnapped by the Duke of Andover....and there the adventure begins.

The funny thing about this book is that it introduces a set of characters who appear in two other Georgette Heyer books, These Old Shades and Devil's Cub--except all the names are changed in the last two books. Anyway, in The Black Moth we meet the Duke of Andover, who stars (with his name changed) in These Old Shades (we meet Jack and Diana again too--but their names are changed also. Why, I wonder?) and whose son stars in Devil's Cub. They're not an "official" trilogy but they sure seem to belong together.

I really like almost all Georgette Heyer books and this one is no exception. And it's kind of unique in that it's part of a little trilogy. I don't think Georgette Heyer wrote any others like that.