WIP: An Unexpected Confrontation

The earl and Delia differ in every possible way, no way more than in their child rearing ideas. After an accident David has forbidden his children from going near hers. His daughter responds in predictable fashion: by running down to the neighboring house. *** “This young lady arrived on my doorstep and threw herself on […]

The Call for Reform

Did you know that demands for economic and political reform reached a crisis point in the years after Waterloo? The country experienced a recession in the aftermath of the wars and unemployment skyrocketed, aggravated by hoards of returning soldiers looking for work. Prices rose at the same time, while Parliament refused to reform the Corn […]

Off to Leicestershire

I I travel. Sometimes I travel by boat, plane, or automobile. Sometimes I travel by book. Sometimes I explore the real world. This week I flew back and forth between three country estates with Alina K. Field and The Impetuous Heiress. Luckily we had comfortable carriages and delightful company, because we sped between two houses […]

Glasgow and Beyond

I travel. Sometimes I travel by boat, plane, or automobile. Sometimes I travel by book. Sometimes I explore the real world. This week I rambled to a small estate and textile mills in and around Glasgow and then on to London and the stifling townhouse of the vile Duke of Auchen with my fellow bluestocking, […]

Heroines of the Great War

Highlighting the facts behind historical fiction with Cerise Deland who also writes as Jo Ann Powers. Decades ago I became fascinated by the American women who volunteered to go abroad to nurse American soldiers in France during World War One.  At the time, we lived in Washington D.C. and I was very familiar with the holdings […]

WIP: Pressure on the Earl

Clarion’s ambition to be Home Secretary has enabled well meaning friends–and his determined family—to convince him to host a house party. Lady Danbury, for one, also thinks he needs a wife, a well bred girl with impeccable bloodlines and skills to be a successful society/political hostess. Delia counts herself ineligible on both counts. Besides she […]

Rambling Among Lyons

I travel. Sometimes I travel by boat, plane, or automobile. Sometimes I travel by book. Sometimes I explore the real world. This week I rambled to Stonehaven, seat of the Duke of Mar in Scotland, with Meara Platt and Lord Lucas Lyon. I will leave to your imagination, dear reader, what happens when a lovely—frankly […]

Forced Marriage in Regency England

Highlighting the facts behind historical romance with Jude Knight and thoughts on marriage in the Regency era. 1140 was a watershed year in the Western understanding of the institution of marriage. In that year, the Benedictine monk Gratian published his canon law textbook, Decretum Gratiani, ruling that the consent of the couple was essential for […]

WIP: Getting Too Close

David and Delia’s walls are coming down. He walks her home to discuss something and ends up having an entirely unexpected conversation. One entirely too intimate for David’s comfort. *** “Did you marry to spite them?” she asked, stunning him. “Astute observation, Lady Fitzwallace. That may have been a bonus reward. I got Marjory and […]