Guestpost: Lady Henrietta's Dilemma by Katy Walters

Lady Henrietta harbours a secret, so appalling, she cannot tell even her closest friend, the Lady Isabella. As her wedding approaches, it preys on her mind, and she pleads with her fiancé Lord Vaughan Bruges, the Marquess de Courres, to delay the consummation of the marriage. They have a shocking argument, in which Lord Vaughan refuses to declare any love for her, and to her anguish is unwilling to give up his mistress. Henrietta wishes to call off the marriage, but knows it would ruin her family’s reputation. However, Lord Vaughan too harbours a secret, one that could break Henrietta’s heart, even wreck her life.

There is a certain prince, who is determined to have her, married or not, but what is his true title?

A romance set in 1815 as the clouds of war gather over Brussels.

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                                                             Guestpost:

She shall go to the ball?

The search for love does not change. On researching for my Lords of Sussex series, I came across a book by Sarah Fullerton, which along with other literature, can enrich the Regency novel. There is the essence of the Cinderella story for the young girl in that era. There is not enough space to describe the differing types of ball, the family, the private, the court ball, and the assembly rooms. The dance was of prime importance, just below that of the rules of propriety. It was a place to where young women flocked in the hope of finding the man of their dreams, from the local beau to the squire’s son or the heir to a dukedom. This was echoed in the twentieth century, when it was the local dance hall on a Saturday night and today, the nightclubs.  

In Regency times, the girls from rich families had no problem with transport, and could rely on the carriage if they lived in the country, or the sedan, if in town. Not so, for the less fortunate girls, as for instance Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice, had to rely upon the good will of friends and neighbours for a lift.  Her father did possess a carriage, but it became too expensive and he was forced to sell it. Often Jane would walk to a family dance or assembly room.  Sometimes, arrangements for a lift were mixed-up or forgotten, and the girl dressed for the ball remained at home, whilst her friends danced the night away.