# XXII explained — Beauvallet

> Chapter companion for Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer.

## What happens

Joshua recounts their harrowing seven-day ride through Spain, fleeing Madrid with Sir Nicholas. They face exhaustion, bad horses, and near-discovery, but bluff their way through using the King's business as a pretext. At Vasconosa, Sir Nicholas confronts Doña Beatrice, deducing that Don Diego has taken Dominica to a hunting lodge. When King's men arrive, he swiftly gags and binds Beatrice, passes her out the window to Joshua, and carries her off into the spinney before heading to the lodge.

## Themes in this chapter

### Adventure and Risk

The entire chapter is a breathless escape across Spain, with bluffing, stolen horses, and constant danger of capture.

### Loyalty and Betrayal

Joshua's unwavering loyalty to Sir Nicholas contrasts with Doña Beatrice's ambiguous allegiance, as she is bound and left behind.

### Identity and Disguise

Sir Nicholas uses the King's business and a false paper (a laundry inventory) to pass as a royal messenger, hiding his true identity as El Beauvallet.

## Character check-ins

### Sir Nicholas Beauvallet

Leads the mad ride with ruthless determination, deduces Dominica's location from Beatrice, and physically carries Beatrice away when King's men arrive.

### Joshua Dimmock

Narrates the journey with vivid detail, assists in the escape, and helps carry Beatrice out the window.

### Doña Beatrice de Carvalho

Confronted by Sir Nicholas, she is gagged, bound, and carried off into the spinney to prevent her from aiding the King's men.

### Don Diego de Carvalho

Mentioned as the knave who has taken Dominica to the hunting lodge; Sir Nicholas vows to rid the earth of him.

### Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva

The quarry of Sir Nicholas's hunt; believed to be held at the hunting lodge.

## Key lines

> We took what horses we would, scattered the ducats here and there. Did a man refuse to sell? A murrain on the fellow! if he would not sell in all honesty he must be robbed.

We commandeered horses and paid generously; if someone refused to sell honestly, we simply robbed them.

_Joshua describes their high-handed methods of acquiring horses during the escape._

> I know that I shall have rid the earth of a very knave when I rid it of Don Diego de Carvalho.

I will have done the world a service by killing Don Diego de Carvalho.

_Sir Nicholas vows to kill Don Diego for taking Dominica._

> Had you been a man I should have killed you.

If you were a man, I would have killed you.

_Sir Nicholas tells Doña Beatrice he spares her only because she is a woman._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xxii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beauvallet_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters