# Léon Bonnard — These Old Shades character guide

> Léon Bonnard in These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Léon, Bonnard, little Léon

**First appearance:** 0002-i-his-grace-of-avon-buys-a-soul

## Snapshot

Léonie's twin brother, raised beside her in the tavern, whose quiet devotion and reckless chess game mask a boy missing half of himself.

## Who they are

Léon Bonnard is the page who shares Léonie's face and her secret history, left behind when Avon carries her off to Paris and reduced to playing chess with Hugh Davenant while he waits for news. He plays a monstrous reckless game, claims a conveniently short memory, and asks after Monseigneur with a proprietary 'us' that betrays how much he misses his twin. His separation from Léonie gives the novel its quiet ache of loss, and his eventual fate is bound up with the identity she is only beginning to discover.

## In the story

### [These Old Shades](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/these_old_shades_se/chapters/these-old-shades)

A young boy being mistreated by his brother; he is purchased by the Duke of Avon.

### [I: His Grace of Avon Buys a Soul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/these_old_shades_se/chapters/i-his-grace-of-avon-buys-a-soul)

A desperate, starving boy sold by his brother; becomes Avon's page.

### [Introducing the Comte de Saint-Vire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/these_old_shades_se/chapters/ii-introducing-the-comte-de-saint-vire)

The page, now neatly dressed, answers Avon's questions about his origins and serves wine at the gaming house, catching Saint-Vire's attention.

### [His Grace of Avon Visits Versailles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/these_old_shades_se/chapters/v-his-grace-of-avon-visits-versailles)

Dressed in black velvet with real lace, he is given a sapphire chain and clasp by Avon, initially refuses it as payment but eventually accepts, and accompanies Avon to Versailles where he fetches a chair for the Vicomte.

### [His Grace of Avon Refuses to Sell His Page](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/these_old_shades_se/chapters/vi-his-grace-of-avon-refuses-to-sell-his-page)

Blushes when reminded of falling asleep; terrified when Avon asks about his brother; begs not to be sent back; revealed to be a girl named Léonie.

### [VIII: Hugh Davenant Is Amazed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/these_old_shades_se/chapters/viii-hugh-davenant-is-amazed)

Briefly appears, showing his playful and obstinate nature; the secret of his true identity is central to the chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/these_old_shades_se/characters/leon_bonnard
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/these_old_shades_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/these_old_shades_se/characters