Here I am, innocently perusing ball gown fashions of 1823, and I come across this lovely quote…

A learned wife may be considered about as useless a member of society as a learned pig. Indeed, the latter may be looked upon as the less injurious of the two.

Ugh!

I … read more ↦

2016 is the 200-year anniversary of The Year Without a Summer. Due to a huge volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora, Europe and North America suffered severe weather in 1816, especially in summer, when it snowed in New York!

To celebrate this anniversary, Five authors have written the Regency collection A … read more ↦

The most improbable of all improbable marriages?

The year: 1827

The hero: William Aubrey de Vere Beauclerk, 9th Duke of St. Albans

The heroine: Harriot Mellon, the daughter of strolling players (though some sources say her father was a chimney sweep) and a celebrated actress in London.

Their happily ever … read more ↦

Another improbable romance that works my muse into a tizzy!

The year: 1792
The hero: Sir Henry Crewe, 7th Baronet
The heroine: Ann (or “Nanette” or “Nanny”) Hawkins, lady’s maid (Hey, she shares a last name with the House of Trent!)
Their happily ever after: Sir Henry was one of … read more ↦

I’ve heard a lot of critical murmurings about historical romances (The Duchess Hunt included) that dismiss the theme of dukes (and other lords and ladies) marrying far below their station. While many readers seem to adore the Cinderella trope, to some readers, it is unrealistic to the point of … read more ↦

I’m going to be starting a new “Stranger Than Fiction” Series, of the amazing, sometimes accurate and sometimes outlandish advice give by various writers and doctors of the Regency and early Victorian periods (generally from 1800 to 1840ish).

Today, I’m talking about teeth. Our methods today of cleaning the teeth … read more ↦

On a lighter note, here’s a tidbit about a Regency-era (1810) cat fight (from the 1810 Belle Assemblee):

A singular conflict lately took place in Cardiganshire. Two women, one eighty-eight years of age and the other eighty-six, who for nearly sixty years had been the most intimate friends, quarrelled respecting

So much is going on. Thanks to all of you who have read Pleasures of a Tempted Lady, and thanks so much for your emails–I love hearing from readers. And I appreciate all of you so much!

I’ve turned in my next book, The Duchess Hunt–it’s the start … read more ↦

As I’m writing my next book (which really needs a title!), picture me in a room surrounded by virtual papers flying around: Ooh regency balls! Ball gowns in 1815! Drawing room furniture! Great Regency gardens! Palladian architecture! The etiquette of dancing! What’s for supper? The evolution of a duchess’s dress!… read more ↦

So I was researching garters today (for my heroine Olivia, in Secrets of an Accidental Duchess), and I came upon this, from a book written in 1813. I didn’t know the garter custom was this old; and I really didn’t know it got this…um…wild!

GARTERS at WEDDINGS

There was