Author: Rue Allyn Page 11 of 17

Dear Editor,

I wish to alert your readership to a scandalous situation occurring in Wiltshire as I write. The London to Bristol road—much used by our military during the hostilities—has suffered a great degree of damage from the demands for rapid delivery of armaments and troops from the West of England to the Capitol and beyond.

I cannot describe the number of serious accidents that have occurred with increasing frequency. From personal experience, I can relate that ruts as deep as ditches wander the road in all directions, causing all sorts of mayhem. I myself was so badly tossed about when traveling to my cousin in Chippenham that I was unable to walk for a week after arriving. My daughter-in-law suffered the deep embarrassment and pain of being forced to deliver my grandchild at the side of the road, when driving conditions became so terrible as to make forward progress impossible. Our local newspapers are filled with tales of businesses and even schools that are forced to close because of the poor condition of the road.

Now I have learned that a dastardly plot is afoot to prevent the much needed repairs. Several months ago, when the Corsican Monster was finally defeated, a proposal was made in Parliament to spend monies no longer needed for war on improving the roads between London and Bristol. These turnpikes have needed improvement since before the turn of the century. However, any monies available for such necessary improvements was diverted to our military efforts in more than ten years of war with France.

The MP for Wiltshire has made a valiant effort to see success for the proposal to allot national funding to aid the various turnpike trusts with direly needed improvements. Most of these trusts are as impoverished as the general citizenry of Wiltshire. Else I am certain that improvements would have been made promptly.

However, I digress, despite all the efforts of our MP to see that right is done, the proposed allotment has been diverted to fund another canal. Another canal is not needed. This diversion is simply an attempt by coal companies and barge owners to line their pockets at the expense of the good citizens of Wiltshire.

Worse yet is the financial speculation that the government has allowed for what are clearly spurious canal companies. I have it on good authority that Lord L W. and Earl F—among many others—are deeply involved in speculative investments in the canal companies. No doubt in an attempt to repair the fortunes they each lost to gambling and extravagance.

This cannot be allowed to continue. I urge you, sir, and your entire readership to protest most vociferously to Parliament against allotment of funds for mere speculation when British citizens are suffering.

Most Respectfully Yours

Lady R. N.

Dear fans of The Teatime Tattler, I wrote this fictional letter as I began research for a new novel involving a lady engineer and the man she comes to love. I am still in the midst of drafting The Pirate Duchess, so this new book is a year or so in the future, but I enjoy sharing the possibilities inspired by research. The images and factual information that this letter is based on come from Wikipedia and Shutterstock. Thank you very much for reading,

Dear Readers,

One of our correspondents, Mrs. B-W, has been visiting relatives in the city of Boston in the former colonies. She sends us this fascinating tidbit about a local tradition.

Dear Mr. Clemens,

I have very much enjoyed my visit with my American cousins. Boston is a lovely and propsperous town with a cultured society such as I never would have expected. We’ve had no end of balls, routs, salons, concerts and informative lectures. Politics is much discussed, and Bostonians do not hesitate to express their opinions and argue when they differ. Such contention did not prepare me for the custom of Thanksgiving Day. A day that celebrates the good fortune and blessings bestowed by God upon the former colonies.

When I first heard of the event, my cousin expressed surprise that I did not know of it and gave me some of the writings from my ancestor, one William Bradford of Plymouth Plantation. I found these texts informative not just of the celebration, but of an American cultural element no usually seen by English visitors. Mr. Bradford describes the inciting events for this Thanksgiving celebration as follows. words follow:

They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they can be used (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besides waterfowl, there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides, they had about a peck a meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to the proportion. Which made many afterward write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true reports.^[27]

And afterward the Lord sent them such seasonable showers, with the interchange of fair warm weather as, through His blessing, caused a fruitful and liberal harvest, to their no small comfort and rejoicing. For which mercy, in time convenient, they also set apart a day of thanksgiving … By this time harvest was come, and instead of famine now God gave them plenty … for which they blessed God. And the effect of their particular planting was well seen, for all had … pretty well … so as any general want or famine had not been amongst them since to this day.^[35]

It would seem to me, Mr. Clemens and dear readers that such a celebration is well worthy of emulation. I hope to have more historical items of interest to pass along in the future.

Respectfully,

Mrs. B-W

Dearest Father,

I write in the hope that you will understand and forgive me for refusing to wed the barbaric Scot you’ve chosen for me. Not even loyalty to you, my king and country, is enough to make me willing to sacrifice my person and my honor. You will have to find another way to compel this Baron MacKai, who is one of the rudest men in creation, to cooperate in your plot with King Edward to overthrow the Scottish monarch. By the time you receive this I will be on my way to a convent where my skills as a horse trainer will be appreciated and useful. I grieves me that I will probably never see you or my brothers again in this life.

With all my love,

Jessamyn

Dear Readers,

This missive was found amongst some obscure parchments by an anonymous researcher who currently assists with cataloguing antique manuscripts at Oxford’s Bodleian Library. The research became intrigued by the defiant tone of the message and has tracked down the source using clues from the missive itself. You—indeed much of the ton—will be interested to learn that the author of this note did not as she states in the letter end up in the convent. She did in fact wed Baron Raeb MacKai in the year 1295. How that came about is a story as yet unlearned. Although marriage lines obtained from Scotland prove that the author is a Lady from an English DuG. family of high renown and influence. One cannot but wonder what other secrets might be revealed were the Earl DuG to permit investigation of that distinguished family’s records. Sadly, such permission is unlikely to be given, as the Earl is among the highest of sticklers for propriety. We wait eagerly to discover if he or his relatives might find this revelatory missive a bit embarrassing. Could the family be hiding a taint of rebelliousness amongst its women? That might explain the current peccadillo’s of Lady J DuG. More on her recent adventures in a future issue of the Teatime Tattler.

Blurb for Knight Defender: Sent alone to Scotland to wed a wild scot and serve the needs of her father and her king, Lady Jessamyn plots to escape the marriage and make the life she wants. In Scotland she finds not the wild boorish monster she imagined but a Knight Defender who would claim her heart, if she will only give up her dreams. — Baron Raeb MacKai is done allowing himself and everyone he loves to live in poverty and despair. His betrothal to a wealthy English heiress will solve a decade of problems. He will do everything necessary to defend his home and his country, but can he defend his heart?

About the Author: When not writing, or enjoying her warm sunny home with her spouse of more than four decades Rue Allyn, Rue travels the world and surfs the internet in search of background material and inspiration for her next heart melting romance. She loves to hear from readers, and you may contact her at Rue@RueAllyn.com.  She can’t wait to hear from you.

Dateline: European Battlefront, Fall 1809

Dear Readers,

I beg of you indulge this poor author for deviating from the Tattler’s normal publication of humorous and tittilating information. A desparate situation has arisen with in our armies on the continent, which is like to win The Corsican’s victories for him.

How could that possibly be when British Forces are the best equipped, best trained in the world? In a word, FEVER. This month sees campaigns at both Guadiana in Spain and Walcheren in the Netherlands where our armies are decimated, not by powder and shot, but by insidious fever that strikes without warning.

Casualties number in the thousands with countless more of our brave lads unable to stand and fight. Medical staff are over worked and supplies to fight this invisible enemy are small.

 A Mrs. C., whose son serves in the Royal Fusiliers received word from him of dire conditions.

“[N]o ventilation, twenty men sick in the room, of whom about eighteen died. In this place there were [sic] one door, and one chimney, but no windows. Relapse again; deaf as a post; shirt unchanged and sticking to my sore back; ears running stinking matter; a man lying close on my right hand with both his legs mortified nearly to the knees, and dying. A little sympathy would have soothed, but sympathy there was none.”*

We know well that our women, Ladies or otherwise, cannot go to war personally. However, you can send support. Medical and cleaning supplies (see the list on page seven) are desparately needed. Letters of encouragement, sympathy and hope are needed to give our soldiers the will to continue, to fight to regain their health for confrontations on the battlefield.

Do not allow this sickness to win Napoleon’s war for him. Act Now! Organize, cooperate with churches and charities to send all possible aid to Britain’s only defense against the Coriscan’s aim to conquer England. With your help we can rise victorious over all enemies.

The Tattler is interested in news of your efforts and promises complete discretion to any who wish to share their efforts and contributions to aid our Military.

*This quote was copied from an article by Andrew Bamford.

BIG SI VAN DEMER GUILTY OF MURDER

Dateline, Fall 1870, Laramie, Wyoming Territory

Gossip has been rife since Army Colonel Brackett stepped in and declared the murder trial of Miss Kiera Alden to be a mistrial. Miss Alden was subsequently released from government custody and declared innocent of any crime. Stunning actions followed with the arrest of three of Wyoming’s most prominent citizens: Judge Herbert Richter, Prosecuting Attorney Gerald Scott, and Big Si Van Demer, the wealthiest and most powerful ranch owner in the territory. Even more stunning, the proof against these three men came from Van Demer’s daughter, Miss Elise Van Demer.

This young lady gave sworn testimony before Colonel Brackett, the highest legal authority in the absence of legitimate cival authority. We quote Miss Van Demer here.

“My father, Simon Van Demer, is the person who shot Sheriff Boswell and tried to cover it up by burning down the horse barn. He then falsely accused Miss Kiera Alden, stealing from her evidence she possessed that would prove her innocence. I found this evidence and have returned it to Miss Alden through Marshall Evrett Quinn.”

When Big Si’s legal representative questioned the veracity of a rebellious daughter’s testimony, Miss Van Demer replied as follows.

“My accusations are not false. I witnessed the argument between my father and Sam, Sheriff Boswell, but Daddy didn’t see me. He was too busy starting the fire in the barn. I wanted to go to Sam, but I knew he was dead. I’d seen the life go out of him the minute he was shot. So I ran.”

Miss Van Demer explained her absence of two weeks–an absence that might have cost Miss Kiera Alden her life–by stating that she had gone to seek counsel from her grandfather. Turning her father in for murder disturbed Miss Van Demer, but seeing an innocent person hang for his crime bothered the young lady more.

On return to Laramie, Miss Van Demer immediately sought out Marshall Quinn who had already called in Colonel Bracket because of doubts about Big Si’s version of events.

Miss Van Demer’s further testimony before the colonel clarifies the charges her father now faces

“I can also testify that I saw my father talking with Judge Richter and heard them discuss bribes that my father had given the judge and the prosecuting attorney to guarantee that Miss Alden was found guilty and sentenced to hang.”

The uproar over this near miscarriage of justice has been overwhelming. So much so that the venue was changed for the trials of Mr. Van Demer, Judge Richter, and Attorney Scott. As of this date all three have been sentenced to maximum prison sentences.

As for Miss Van Demer she is still a minor and subject to the legal authority of her father who will be in prison for at least twenty years. Her only other relative, her maternal grandfather, has passed away recently. One can only wonder what will become of this young lady.

About One Night’s Desire – Book 2 of the Wildfire Love Series is available now at https://Books2Read.com/u3nvizo.

A WOMAN ON THE RUN – Rustlers, claim jumpers and fire, nothing will stop Kiera Alden from reuniting her family.  But an accusation of murder threatens her dreams and sets Marshall Evrett Quinn on her trail.  She may be able to escape prison bars and eventually prove her innocence, but she can’t escape Quinn’s love.

A LAWMAN IN HOT PURSUIT – Marshall Evrett Quinn is relentless in pursuit of law-breakers, and pretty Kiera Alden is no exception.  Clever and courageous, she evades him until chance encounter turns the tables.  Finally he has this elusive desperado under arrest, but success is bittersweet when she captures his heart. 
Elise Van Demer’s story, The Legend of Skinner Robelard, releases Nov. 16, 2020. Join Rue’s Crew on FB or sign up for Rue’s News to get updates.

About Rue Allyn – About Rue Allyn – Award winning author, Rue Allyn, learned story telling at her grandfather’s knee. (Well it was really more like on his knee—I was two.) She’s been weaving her own tales ever since. She has worked as an instructor, mother, sailor, clerk, sales associate, and painter, along with a variety of other types of employment. She has lived and traveled in places all over the globe from Keflavik Iceland (I did not care much for the long nights of winter.) and Fairbanks Alaska to Panama City and the streets of London England to a large number of places in between. Now that her two sons have left the nest, Rue and her husband of more than four decades (Try living with the same person for more than forty years—that’s a true adventure.) have retired and moved south.  When not writing, enjoying the nearby beach or working jigsaw puzzles, Rue travels the world and surfs the internet in search of background material and inspiration for her next heart melting romance.. She loves to hear from readers, and you may contact her at Rue@RueAllyn.com.  She can’t wait to hear from you.

Find Rue On Line – Website Facebook Twitter Amazon Goodreads