Regency Ramble: Interview with a Rake

Monday, February 6, 2012

Interview with a Rake

Here is where you pay for the research by letting me post about my book Lady Rosabella`s Ruse. Of course, you can quite easily skip the whole thing, so I don`t feel the slightest bit guilty.

None of the women at an "anything goes" house party catches Garth Evernden's jaded eye. The only one worth noting is a covered-up lady's companion with an intriguing hint of exotic beauty the eighth Baron Stanford would like to uncover…

Miss Lethbridge:   Here we are readers, at this elegant country house not far from the Kent coast where a group of rather risque ladies and gentlemen have gathered for a week or two of "fun". At the moment, I am lying in wait for Lord Stanford, Garth Evernden, a well-known man about town. (Smiles sweetly at the tall dark gentlemen trying to avoid her.) Good morning Baron Stanford, isn`t it rather early for you to be up and about?

Lord Stanford: (Impatient sigh.) Excuse me. I am rather busy at the moment. Looking for someone.

Miss Lethbridge: (Sneaky smile. Oh goody, we are going to get some dirt. My editor will be pleased.) Really? And who would that be?

Lord Stanford: (dark eyebrow raised) Not the sort of thing I am in the habit of revealing, madame.

Miss Lethbridge: I thought you hated this sort of contrived "naughtiness" where people pretend to be wicked, Garth? May I call you Garth?

Garth: (a rather bored expression crosses his face) If you wish. If I am going to be honest, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for a certain young lady. He looks around. She is the wife of a good friend of mine.

Miss Lethbridge:   Isn't that rather disloyal? (I realize I am frowning at him and try to merely look interested. I realize by the flash of anger in his eyes I am not doing a very good job.) Er... so that is who you are looking for this morning?

Garth: That is who I was looking for when I arrived here yesterday. (His smile becomes rather wolfish and I take a step back) I don't think she was all that happy to see me.

Miss Lethbridge: That pleases you?

Garth: It's a place to start. At least I have her attention.

Miss Lethbridge: But if you are not looking for her this morning, who are you looking for?

Garth: Our hostess's companion, Rose. I caught her sneaking into the house last night. There is something going on with that young lady.

Miss Lethbridge: And that intrigues you, does it?

Garth: Look, despite that she is a funny old stick, I like Lady Keswick . If this companion of hers, Rose, is up to no good, I think she ought to be warned. And if she is up for night time assignations, then...well... Yes, I'm intrigued. Under those widows weeds is a flower that is both exotic and secretive. What is she hiding? .

Miss Lethbridge: So now you are in pursuit of two women?

Garth: (wicked grin). You didn't actually think I was going to give the plot away, did you?

I was hoping.   He brushes past me and heads for the breakfast room, where uninvited reporters are not permitted. Blast. Perhaps I will get more information out of Mrs Rose Travenor. Perhaps I should hide in the garden and wait for her to appear. And if I learn anything, anything at all, you Dear Reader, will be the first to know. Tune in again next time. Until then, Happy Rambles

You, dear reader, can purchase Lady Rosabella's Ruse at all your favourite stores, either in person or on line. Here are a few links for various on line places from various places around the world if you would find them helpful. While you are it it you might want to look out for The Royal Weddings Anthology out in Print this month.