surprised you find heyer's heroes to be douchebags. some of them are a bit overbearing, but generally they are softened by contact with the heroine. And some of them are very nice, my favourite being Hugo in the Unknown Ajax. snd freddy in Cotillion is sweet. and women are different from men. as for having working class or coloured heroines in heyer romances, I can't see them fitting in with her style. personally don't mind reading about upper class characters now and again, I don't think only working class people are worth reading about. I imagine you would disapprove of P.G. wodehouse for the same reason

Louise