together with two new stories.
as ebooks, with updated covers.
HAVING FAITH IN MY REGENCY TALES.
together with two new stories.
as ebooks, with updated covers.
HAVING FAITH IN MY REGENCY TALES.
Mr
Cheadle braced himself. ‘Now
we will inspect Lady Eleanor’s bequest. As the only daughter of the Earl of
Danestree, she possessed a most valuable collection of jewellery. Some items,
indeed, should only be worn when security is very tight.’ He shook his head,
adjusted his spectacles, which had slipped down his nose, and at last began to
draw the interesting boxes out from the chest.
As
he opened one velvet case after another, all three ladies exclaimed in
admiration and delight at the sparkling jewels. There were several formal
parures, including one of rubies and diamonds, and another of emeralds,
together with an emerald tiara.
Aunt
Sophie pressed a hand to her lips. ‘Oh, I remember her wearing that tiara and
that superb emerald collar at Court.’
‘Superb?’
Sophie giggled. ‘It’s terribly ornate. Poor Aunt Eleanor. How uncomfortable.
And so old-fashioned.’
‘Emeralds
would not become you,’ announced Aunt Sophie, ‘but those pink topaz girandole
earrings would be perfect.’
Sophie
agreed. In addition to several more necklaces, there were a number of rings,
bracelets and earrings, as well as a leather case full of rose-cut diamond
brooches and pendants. These gems flashed with the fire of the purest stones,
causing all three ladies to gasp in admiration.
‘Those
were worn as decoration on the bodice of the old-style court gowns,’ observed
Aunt Sophie, picking one up and turning it to admire the play of light on the
jewels. ‘Completely out of fashion now, of course, but it is no great matter to
have the gems reset in a modern style.’ She frowned. ‘I seem to remember my
sister-in-law had a pair of diamond shoe buckles. What happened to – oh, there
they are.’
She
inspected them through her lorgnette. ‘Yes, these are the ones. It was rare to
have real diamond buckles, was it not, Mr Cheadle?’
‘Allow me to place everything in two piles,
according to Lady Eleanor’s will,’ said Mr Cheadle firmly, ‘Then you young
ladies may select what you wish to take for now and I can return the other
items to the vault for safekeeping.’
Watching the lawyer set out the various cases and boxes
before her, Nell could scarcely breathe. This was her one chance to get money
for her escape. She must select something of great value while not arousing
suspicion.
It
was difficult to keep her hands from trembling while she examined several sets
of gems, eventually picking out a pretty necklace of pink rock crystal and seed
pearls, with matching girandole earrings. Aunt Sophie nodded approvingly. Nell
fiddled with brooches and earrings, examining them one after the other slowly,
until Aunt Sophie turned her attention back to Sophie, who was hesitating
between an aquamarine pendant and a delicate necklace of diamonds and pearls. While
they were deciding, Nell added a pair of pearl bracelets and one of the massive
diamond brooches to her selection.
Her aunt tut-tutted. ‘That diamond piece is far too big
to suit modern dress.’
‘If I decide on my almond green gown, I’d want diamonds,
not coloured stones,’ said Nell, willing her voice to sound calm. ‘This brooch
can be unhooked, and turn into two smaller ones, see.’ She separated it to
demonstrate. ‘Exactly what I need for the occasion.’ She gazed coolly from her
aunt to Mr Cheadle. He bowed his head politely, though his eyes were anguished.
That told her the diamonds were truly valuable.
Sophie, bless her, drew the attention away by asking with
a laugh, ‘Nell, perhaps you’d like to borrow my diamond buckles to complete
your outfit.’
Later, as she inspected her new treasures, Nell gave silent thanks to Aunt Eleanor. Her heart soared. A couple of those diamonds would surely sell for enough to pay for her journey to France, and allow her some much needed money in her pocket. It will transform my life. She drew out Joachim’s little disc and kissed it. Not much longer now, my darling.
From 'A Lady's Honour'
18th century rose cut diamond brooch, On sale from Gallerease, Netherlands
Note : the jewellery shown is for sale at prices that would still make Nell very wealthy today.
A little stone house on a hillside surrounded by fields of neatly combed vines, stretching down into the valley and across the plain to the Canal du Midi. A few ribbons of trees, marking the roads; here and there the rooftop of a farm in the midst of its vineyards. So rural, so peaceful, such a splendid change after years slogging in a grey city in rainwashed northern England.
But even rural retreats under a sparkling blue sky have their dark secrets, along with their traditional way of life. An outsider, especially a pretty woman, will have to contend with difficulties of many kinds.
The plot came to me easily enough. I know the area well, love the climate, the people, the pace of life. My characters rushed to join the story. Haha, I thought, so for this tale, my plot flows. [That doesn't happen to me often.]
But five chapters in, the characters take over. They won't give way, so it's back to pantsing. My villain has become a victim. My pleasure-loving young dude has joined the really bad gang. And a third guy has suddenly appeared [univited by me] and started hanging round my MC. OK, I know, it is the south of France, and he's full of charm but my original two fellows were already creating enough action.
Banging my head on the desk isn't sorting things out. My only consolation for now is my new villain. He's so 'orrible it's fun to write him. So, onwards and upwards, imagining I'm there in the summer sunshine, on a terrace with a glass of muscat as the sky darkens into a canopy of velvet and the evening air is a caress.
The action takes place in Constantinople, with boat rides up the
Bosphorus, bears in the woods, spies and strange customs, as well as
kidnapping, a visit to the Harem and ...well, lots more fun, suspense and
intrigue.
Beth Elliott
0.99 $1.99
Nell was struggling to maintain her composure. It was difficult to appear unaware of the stares people were casting at her and the heads drawing together as people commented. She was never at ease with strangers and felt quite panicky at the sudden crowd of gentlemen requesting a dance. The marquise, delighted by this success, was selecting partners for both girls. At this point the crowd thinned a little and Nell saw Joachim striding towards her, with Bertrand by his side, talking as usual.
Help me, she signalled by a look and his answering smile reassured her that all would be well. She prayed he would ask her for the first dance. That would help her through the ordeal of being inspected and commented on. But oh, no, that horrible Anne suddenly sprang out and grabbed his arm. Will she never give up?
He stopped, he went aside with her. Nell swallowed her disappointment. She jerked her head round not to watch them, and found the marquise beside her.
‘My dear, let me present Monsieur de Lordat.’ She smiled graciously at the young gentleman who was hovering breathlessly in front of her, his eyes fixed on Nell. He was so young his cheeks were still smooth and pink, while his high shirt points prevented him from turning his head more than an inch in either direction. No danger there, in fact, she felt almost motherly.
She placed her hand on the youth’s arm and let him lead her into the line that was forming. Her youthful partner informed her that he was Paul de Lordat, the third brother in the family. He danced well and treated her almost with awe, saying how honoured he felt to dance with her. Nell was touched by his youthful adoration, but slightly embarrassed because he was so very young.
Cravat styles of the Regency Era