IMAGE CREDIT: AFTERNOON TEA FOR THREE (ALSO KNOWN AS A STIRRING CONVERSATION) BY CHARLES SOULACROIX

Is the Rumored Union of Foes Possible?

Gentle Readers,

Every fall, the entire ton eagerly awaits invitations to Sir Peter Somerville’s annual house party. We all know that only the crème de la crème of society is ever invited to the event. Thus rumors are swirling about this years guest list, and why a number of no so August personages have been included.

It is not difficult to understand why plain Mr. George Froppin received an invitation, although it seems to have arrived several weeks after all the others. Froppin, a member of the Society of Friends, has been advising Sir Somerville on a piece of legislation to be presented at the next parliament. We won’t bore you with legislative details other than to say, it may have something to do with the abolition of slavery—a circumstance dear to the heart of all Quakers, like Froppin.

Much more curious than politically motivated invitations is that of life peer, Lord Sandrow and his daughter, Lady Beatrix. Though he cannot sit to Parliament, the earl is known to oppose nearly every measure of reform. Somerville, on the other hand is in the forefront of many political reform movements. In addition, the Somerville line is nearly as ancient as that of the Duke of Leigh. A life peer, no matter how wealthy, is not a guest with the usual cache of those invited to the Somerville home, Normanton House in Sussex.

I mention the Duke of Leigh and that family’s lineage earlier not simply for comparative puposes, but also because the Duke is a close friend of Sir Somerville and his lady. This year as always the Duke is invited. This circumstance makes the invitation of Sandrow even more odd. Everyone knows of the bad feeling between Sandrow and Leigh. For those few who may have forgotten, the cause of the ill-will was the death of Sandrow’s son in a duel with Leigh’s youngest brother, Lord Fontus Leigh.

Sandrow has been calling for the younger Leigh to be tried and hung for murder. Technically, the king’s ban on dueling would make a resulting death a murder, no matter how fair the fight. Sandrow has nearly as much influence as the Duke. Hence Lord Fontus fled the country nearly three years past.*

Keen observers of London Gentlemen’s clubs will have noted, a few months past, that the Duke of Leigh summoned Lord Sandrow to meet in a private room at Whites. No one knows what was discussed between the two men. However, several letters were exchanged subsequent to that meeting. Then Sandrow received the invitation from Somerville, which included Lady Beatrix Sandrow. Could that invitation have been arranged by Somerville’s friend the duke? If so, for what purpose? An engagement perhaps that might cement a rapprochement between the two families? Might Lady Beatrix soon wear a coronet?

Does the invitation have anything to do with the recent return of Lord Fontus Leigh from his self-imposed exile on the continent? Lord Fontus was seen arriving at Leigh Chase. He remained only one night and departed early the next morning, headed in the general direction of Sussex and Normanton House.

A day later, a message arrived at Normanton House from the Duke of Leigh, tendering his regrets. He could not attend the house party due to urgent business on behalf of the Prince Regent. Our source was able to learn that his grace has sent Lord Fontus to represent the Leigh family in the Duke’s absence.—So perhaps not a coronet for Lady Beatrix. However, even an engagement to one of his grace’s younger brothers would be a feather in the cap of a life peer’s daughter, especially one who has been on the shelf for nearly five years.

We shall have to await news of the house party once it starts to discover how much of this rumored union of foes may be true. Still it is worth noting, with less than two weeks before the Somerville event begins, Lord Fontus Leigh has not yet arrived in Sussex. He has had more than sufficient time to cover the distance between Leigh Chase and Normanton House twice over. What could be causing his delay? Perhaps he is smart enough to realize that marriage to a woman who’s brother he killed might not result in a happy union?

If this rumor is true, this reporter wishes to know, what in the world is His Grace of Leigh thinking?

Until next time, Gentle Readers. I cannot wait to learn what happens at the Somerville House party, can you?

*Readers may wish to review our report about the horrifying event that took place between Lord Fontus and Sandrow’s son, published in this paper in September of 1812. https://bluestockingbelles.net/a-horrifying-event/.

About the Story: Forever & Always – The Secrets of Fontus Leigh, Secret Leigh Series Book One By Rue Allyn, to be published in a Bluestocking Belles & Friends Collection launching in Fall of 2025.

Revealing their secrets could be fatal.

He thought of her day and night. Lord Fontus Leigh secretly wed a stranger to protect her, then she left him with no way to find her. Years later, he is desperate to discover her whereabouts. His family has arranged another match for him, but he already has a wife. Unless the marriage was annulled as she promised.

She never forgot him. Out of options, Lady Deoiridh Aitken narrowly escaped marriage to a cruel fortune hunter by means of wedding a complete stranger. She swore her husband to secrecy before she left, believing everyone would be safer if no one knew where she was. The plan worked perfectly, until now.

Will an old enemy destroy them, or can they overcome all obstacles and make a life together forever and always?

About the Author: Hi, I’m Rue Allyn, and mostly I’m about writing stories, books about heart melting romance. Books about characters and adventures in which love triumphs at the darkest moment. The kind of suspenseful, hopeful, cathartic, romance that melts a reader’s heart.

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