As the hot dog days of summer are upon us, I
searched for a post to write and decided to look at what the ton would do between the social seasons
in London.
Before the Prince Regent, Prinny, built his pavilion
in Brighton, the fashionable visited Bath, a resort known for its healing
waters. Bath was much stodgier than London, but nevertheless, people of means
flocked to the town. Yet, by August, the main source of entertainment were
house parties. For those who did not have an estate, it was the means to enjoy
country life, it was also a method by which marriage minded mamas could promote
their single daughters, and for those not intent on marriage, a place to
conduct affairs or compromise a young lady into marriage.
Ones host and hostess were responsible for gathering
a convivial group of people. Some of marriageable age, others older. Equal
numbers of men and women were desired. Entertainments for both genders were
planned, for it wouldn’t do for a guest to complain about being bored. Unlike
the house parties you may have seen on TV, ladies did not just sit around in
the house. Trips to nearby historical sites would have been planned as well as
picnics, horse rides, impromptu and
planned balls, musicals, and possibly plays. It was important that young ladies
were proficient on the pianoforte, or harp. They were also taught to sing, and men
frequently joined a lady in a duet. Though it would have been scandalous for a
lady to act in a public play, they were encouraged to take part in private
ones. Ladies were also encouraged to learn archery and other outside games.
So now that you’ve ensured your guest are having a
wonderful time, how does one get rid of them. Well, one enterprising hostess in
Georgette Heyer’s book, False Colors,
caused hers to flee by telling them that even though some had sore throats, she
was sure there was not scarlet fever in the nearby village.
Alas, the only house party that occurs in The
Temptation of Lady Serena is to protect her from the charms of Robert Beaumont.
Here is the blurb for The Temptation of Lady Serena.
Ella Quinn’s bachelors in The Marriage
Game series are charming and cunning when it comes to the ways of love—until
the right woman captures their unsuspecting hearts…
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Custom-made gowns…nights
at the theater…and a host of eligible bachelors. Accustomed to living a quiet
life in the Scottish Borderlands, Lady Serena Weir has never had any of these
luxuries. But when Serena’s brother demands she finally have a Season in
London, she’s thrust into a glamorous world she’s only dreamed of…
Robert, Viscount Beaumont remembers all too well what it feels like to be in love. That is why he must keep his distance from Serena. He’s only felt his pulse stir the way it does now when he made the mistake of loving the wrong woman once before. Yet the more he strives to resist his feelings, the nearer he is to falling under Serena’s seductive spell…
“Supported by a wonderful cast of
characters, Quinn’s thoughtfully drawn lovers teach each other the value of
love in this delicious Regency treat.” ~ New York Times Bestselling author
Eileen Dreyer
EXCERPT
Traveling with his valet and groom, Robert hired a chaise and horses.
They arrived in the quiet hôtel in
Rue St. Honoré, not far from the British embassy, in the afternoon on the third
day after he departed Calais. Leaving Henley to take care of the rooms, Robert
strode quickly to the embassy. He was searching for the registry when he heard
a familiar voice.
“Beaumont! What are you doing here?”
Robert turned to see an old friend from Oxford, Sir Walter
Thrashridge. “I could ask the same about you. The last I heard you were in
Portugal. Are you posted here now?”
“No, unfortunately, merely passing through to my new posting in
Brussels. I’ve seen Evesham.”
Robert fought to keep his irritation at Marcus hidden. “I have come to
join them. I was in Yorkshire when they made the decision to travel here. I
understand it’s a rather large party. Who else came with them?”
Beaumont waited while Thrashridge thought.
“I remember now. Lord and Lady St. Eth, then a Lord and Lady
Rutherford, St. Eth’s sister and other niece, Lady Serena. What a beautiful
girl she is, made quite an impression at Lady Elisabeth’s ball t’other evening.
In fact, Lady Evesham, Lady Rutherford, and Lady Serena were the principal
attractions. Evesham and Rutherford took care to stay by their ladies. With all
the expatriates and the Frenchies hovering around Lady Serena, there wasn’t any
getting near her.”
Robert stopped himself from grinding his teeth. “Don’t happen to know
Evesham’s direction, do you? I only know it is some house he bought.”
“I don’t, but the registry will have it. Are you going there now?”
“That is my intent.”
“Well, I’ll show you the way. There was something else I thought I
should say to you.” Thrashridge rubbed his chin. After a moment he smiled.
“I’ve got it now. I’m to wish you happy. Who is the young lady?”
“Lady Serena,”
Robert said gruffly. And when I find her,
I’m going to drag her to Yorkshire where she belongs.
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Amazon Canada: http://amzn.to/13OW4Fn
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/198ENaV
Kensington: http://bit.ly/1b6z328
Amazon Canada: http://amzn.to/13OW4Fn
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/198ENaV
Kensington: http://bit.ly/1b6z328
Ella
Quinn lived all over the United States, the Pacific, Canada, England and Europe
before finally discovering the Caribbean. She lives in St. Thomas, Virgin
Islands with her wonderful husband, three bossy cats and a loveable great dane.
Ella loves when friends connect with her
