Category: Teatime Tattler Page 29 of 154

Dear Readers, we offer today, a titillating story impossible to keep quiet. It seems that Sir Henry was travelling from England via the newly launched SS Great Eastern luxury liner to attend a business conference in New York City. Lady Brisson was not accompanying him; however, installed in a separate cabin, his previously unknown British mistress Caroline was!

As per the ship’s custom, strangers were seated together at a large table in the dining salon permitting the two secret lovers, presumably unacquainted, to dine together. By the sixth day of the ocean crossing, members of the group knew each other and it was not considered unusual for the two of them to be seen promenading around the ship.

It was a lovely night with a full moon when Sir Henry and Caroline excused themselves from the dinner table to take in the air. While strolling on deck enjoying the warm breeze and star filled sky, they passed a lifeboat undergoing some sort of upgrading or repair.

Not to be dissuaded from a chance for adventure, they looked at each other and said, “Why don’t we check out the inside? What an opportunity! How can we resist?”

Climbing on board, carrying their evening’s second bottle of wine, they proceeded to take advantage of the unusual locale. The risk that someone enjoying an evening walk might pass by and spy on their activities just added to the excitement!

But totally unexpected was their discovery in flagrante delicto by four workmen when they showed up to check on their repairs. After quickly reassembling themselves, the lovers beat a hasty retreat. Although they were spared further embarrassment by bumping into the workers during the rest of the trip, the incident had supplied a titillating story for the entire ship’s crew; a crew who talked!

This tawdry affair comes at a particularly awkward time as the Brisson’s eldest daughter Louise is about to marry the Rev. John McMichael, a staunch Church of England minister who is rector at St. Clements Anglican Church in London. Will the marriage take place? Will Lady Brisson throw Sir Henry out of their Kensington Gardens estate or will she forgive him?

Watch this space for more, as information becomes available.

About the book: Get ready to experience a roller coaster ride of emotions!

Laughter, sadness, empathy, outrage. Canadian Anne Hamilton Fowler appeared to have it all. However, life is not always as idyllic as it seems and at age twenty a series of events almost destroyed her. Emerging from the wreckage she reinvented herself, started over, and proceeded to live on the edge with a risk-taking lifestyle. Then in 1993, an event experienced during a trip to Central America changed everything.

“I’ve Worn Many Hats” is an inspirational read that demonstrates our human frailties, one’s ability to survive personal adversity, and how we can learn to forgive both ourselves and others. It is a story of redemption.

Anne Fowler is a retired Canadian who divides the year between her Haliburton summer cottage and Central America. This memoir is her first book and all proceeds will go to support Anne’s ongoing humanitarian work in Honduras.

Available now!

This past fortnight most of good society was in Brighton while the king was in residence. This week’s highlight was a performance by Mr. Maddox’s traveling circus troupe. Dear reader, I have been to the circus performances at Astley’s Amphitheatre in London but have never seen a show quite like this. You may be wondering what could possibly be so scintillating to catch all the ton’s attention.

Let me paint you a picture. The evening was warm, and the skies clear. On the great lawns behind the Royal Pavilion, a stage with rich red velvet curtains hung from a large ironwork frame created a dramatic backdrop to a great wooden ring that sat in the grass. And above it, at least twenty feet in the air, a tightrope stretched across the ring. The entire stage area was lit with torches that flickered brightly in the twilight. Mr. Maddox, tall and handsome, strode out onto the stage to welcome the crowd of onlookers and bow deeply to the king, who sat with the best view atop a sumptuously appointed dais.

Then with a blare of a trumpet, the show began. Acrobats dressed as fairies, male and female, cartwheeled onto the stage in frothy costumes made of sparkling gauzy fabrics. And from their midst, two horses in tandem rode out into the ring, with a beautiful woman atop, one foot on each horse, her long hair flowing behind her, the copper strands on fire in the torchlight. The lady wore a dress with a voluminous skirt of pink gauze that ended mid-calf over white stockings. The bodice sparkled with bejeweled silk flowers. A collective gasp echoed in the evening air as the guests recognized the performer as none other than the scandalous daughter of Lord and Lady Dearborn.

Yes, you read that correctly. Lady Susanna Ashby rode out into the center ring, scantily clad I might add as many said they could see her stocking-covered calves, to perform with the circus. I will admit the tricks she executed on horseback were quite entertaining, but shocking in the absolute scandal of it all! And in front of the king, no less. This writer heard from a reliable source that Lord Dearborn was seen dragging his prodigy off into the shadows. And hot on their heels was a certain marquess of the very respectable variety. So, it begs the question, what business does an upright peer have with an outrageous lady who willfully ruins her reputation in front of the king?

About: Making the Marquess Mine–Miles Weston, the Marquess of Hawksridge, longs for a holiday from his life. He is tired of all the politics, in and out of the ballrooms. Ever since his aborted wedding, his aunt has tried to match him with blank-faced debutants at every turn. The only entertaining thing in his overscheduled life is observing the antics of Lady Susanna Ashby, whose beauty and vibrancy brighten the greyest day.

Susanna’s spirit for adventure is matched only by her loyalty to her friends. Determined to help the distractingly handsome but overwhelmingly serious marquess, Susanna concocts a plan to distract his matchmaking Aunt Diana. She’ll reunite Diana with her long-lost lover, who wrote her passionate letters of love and longing. If only Susanna could discover the whereabouts of the mysterious James Marlow.

As Susanna launches her ill-fated plan, heedless of the danger, her worried friends send Miles to fetch her home. But Susanna has no intention of letting anything derail her quest to find the man from the letters. Not bad weather, broken carriage wheels, or highwaymen. Not even a sexy, managing marquess.

Available Now: https://books2read.com/u/b5qQwG

Excerpt:  Dear Lord, she was still in the bath. He froze, his thoughts stuttered to a full stop at the idea that Susanna was naked in the bath only ten feet away. He cleared his throat. “It’s me.”

“Miles! What are you doing in here? Do you make it a habit of entering lady’s rooms without knocking?”

He stiffened at her barb. Of course, he didn’t. He was a bloody gentleman. “Do you make it a habit of not locking your door? And I did knock, twice.”

A splash accompanied her huff of indignation. “So, you just barge in? I know that we are sharing this room but I’m quite exposed. Please leave.”

He should leave, but his feet were rooted to the ground. Water splashed as the shadow behind the screen stood up. With one slim arm it reached for a towel and then the shadow turned to wrap the towel around itself and Miles got an eyeful of her curves in silhouette. Susanna stepped out of the tub and the tantalizing profile disappeared. He could feel her glare through the linen screen.

“Miles, get out. Better yet, go home. Thank you for saving me today but now I am safely in the care of the Hadleys. You can go back to Brooksdale and your precious holiday.”

“No. I’m not going anywhere. We are going to get some rest and then we are going to travel back to Marbury tomorrow.”

Susanna’s shadow raised one arm in the air, a pointed finger jutted into the air. “We are doing no such thing. I am going to travel with the Hadleys to Weymouth Bay. I am going to find James Marlow and convince him to come back and reunite with the love of his life.”

Miles ran a hand through his already unruly hair. He blew out a long breath. “Why are you so stubborn? Marlow is likely nowhere near Weymouth Bay. And even if he is there, why would he listen to you?”

Susanna’s head popped around the corner of the screen. Her hair dripped on the floor and the curve of one bare shoulder came into view. He sucked in a sharp breath as his gaze swept over the sprinkling of freckles there.

“I am very persuasive. And he will be there, I just know it.” Her grin turned practically feral. She disappeared behind the screen and he heard the towel drop to the floor with a wet plop. Her lithe shadow moved to the other end of the screened area and she pulled a piece of clothing over her head affording him another tantalizing view of her silhouette.

Miles crossed his arms and snorted. “You just know.”

She appeared a moment later covered in a long-sleeved nightgown, its frilly hem skirted the tops of her bare feet. He couldn’t tear his eyes from her toes. Small and square, the nails trimmed neatly, they were the most adorable toes he had ever seen.

About the Author:  From the time she read fairytales as a child, Karla Kratovil was hooked on stories that ended in Happily Ever After. Now as an author of sexy historical romance she gets to craft her own happy endings. Karla lives right on the edge of Northern Virginia’s wine country with her college sweetheart, two terrific teenagers, and two blond terriers. She is a Taurus. Like any good earth sign she loves good food, good wine, and getting her hands dirty growing things in her garden.

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Dateline: Late November 1814

Gentle Readers,

Several months ago, we brought you news of the disappearance of the Duke of M. via a plea from his sister, Lady C. M. who begged assistance in finding her brother. We can now confide that our searches have born some small but disturbing fruit. Lady C. M. who’s kindness knows no bounds has our deepest sympathies if appearances are proven to be true.

A reliable source stationed in the Caribbean reports sighting His Grace briefly in Port Royal, Jamaica then later in the American City of New Orleans.

A less respectable but generally reliable source in that city informs us that His Missing Grace has been sighted visiting with the pirate Jean LaFitte, then with General Andrew Jackson. Our evasive Duke has also been seen hobnobbing with the New Orleans Haute Ton—such as it may be in a Louisiana backwater.

The implication that a highly respected nobleman may be intent on betraying his country is not one this correspondent cares to make. But everyone recognizes that a man may be known by his associates.

Additionally, in the case of the Duke of M. he would not be the first in his family to betray king and country. Some still recall several years back, when the duke’s half-sibling was wanted by the crown for complicity in the murder of Lord Beaufort. The young assassin vanished from England–according to rumor the elder brother spirited away the younger to evade trial and punishment–before he could be brought to justice. After being tried in absentia, the crown banished the duke’s brother and re-possessed all lands and titles that might have come to the fellow.

Obviously, the barrel of the duke’s family contains more than one bad apple. Or does it? We anxiously await word of the battle that was brewing near New Orleans. Quite possibly, His Grace’s actions will influence the outcome. Will victory clear him of suspicion? Or will defeat condemn him to the same fate as his brother?

Keep watch in this paper for more news, printed the moment we receive it.

About The Creole Duchess:  A duke in disguise, a creole miss determined to get her own way, a curse, and two nations at war, is love even possible?

New Orleans Creole, Miss Celestine St. Cyr-Duval refuses to live under the thumb of some man chosen by her parents. Celie will do everything to gain the ability to make her own way and determine her own fate. But fate interferes in the form of a duke disguised as British businessman, Caleb Elmond. A relationship with Caleb would find approval with Celie’s mother, but both Celie and Caleb have secrets that put them on opposite sides of a great conflict and could destroy them both.

With the Battle of New Orleans looming, can these two strangers from warring countries compromise and protect each other, or will fear and betrayal end both their lives.

The Creole Duchess, Duchess Series Book Three is expected to launch in late 2023. The pre-order price of $0.99 for this long-awaited conclusion to the Duchess Series ends on release day.

You can get book One, The French Duchess, now, available free from Kindle Unlimited. Book Two, The Pirate Duchess, is available now at Amazon and other retailers.

About Rue Allyn: Award-winning author of historical and contemporary romances, Rue Allyn fell in love with happily ever after the day she heard her first story. Rue is happily married to her sweetheart of many, many years. Insatiably curious, an avid reader and traveler, she loves to hear from readers about their favorite books and real-life adventures. Crazy Cat stories are especially welcome. You can contact her at Rue@RueAllyn.com. She can’t wait to hear from you.

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