Tag: Bluestocking Belles Page 1 of 9

Confusion at Woodglen Hall

On December 6, 2025

Dispatch from Nether Abbas, Dorset, November 1818

Confusion reigns over at Woodglen, the duke’s estate. After sitting empty for months, the place is hopping with traffic.

To begin with, our beloved duke, His Grace of Glenmoor, has disappeared. He went off with his father’s (young and very pretty) widow to Wales and hasn’t been seen since. Maud Pritchard put it about that he ran off with the woman, but my nephew in London saw an announcement that the dowager duchess had married some Welshman, a commoner if you can believe it.

With the duke missing and the house empty, we were shocked by the arrival of some dandy claiming to be the heir. Felton Tavernash claims he is a distant cousin, and his pushy mother assures everyone it is true. The man is nothing like our own beloved duke, so I have my doubts. The mother insists the “poor, dear duke” must be dead on the wayside somewhere. Vultures they are, circling for the spoils. My nephew says betting in the clubs is that the duke did himself in, but the good folk of Nether Abbas want proof.

Before we could properly adjust to those two interlopers, another one turned up and moved in. Calls himself Gideon Kendrick. This one claims to be the duke’s older brother, but the old duke said that one had run off and got himself killed as a boy. That was years ago. Besides, the older brother was a bastard and Maud recalls he was some sort of cripple. Well the one at the Hall is a man full grown and very much alive.

What would happen next but Viscount Clavering’s forward daughter Miss Serena Selwyn went and presented herself on the doorstep. One of the maids reported she is after the so-called heir. As we should have expected, that cousin of hers, Miss Euphemia Selwyn took off after her, and they are claiming the first one took sick and the second is caring for her. Does anyone believe that Faradiddle? Not anyone in Nether Abbas I can tell you.

What we do know is there are two young unmarried women up at the Hall with single gentlemen in residence, and that is a fact. Readers can draw their own conclusions.

Milly Sheldon, Correspondent.

_____

Duke in All But Name

Secrets and lies threaten to pull them under, but a forced marriage may be their salvation.

Gideon Kendrick grew up as the despised bastard son of the Duke of Glenmoor. Exiled to the mines by his father, he has not only survived but thrived and prospered. He lives apart, wanting nothing to do with the duke, the estate—or anything in his past, except his younger brother Phillip, the new duke.

When Phillip disappears, leaving behind a letter asking his brother to care for his affairs, Gideon can’t refuse. Armed with authority making him the duke in all but name, he returns to the scene of his worst memories, facing vicious rumors and his family’s past. He also finds a grasping would-be heir, a steward with secrets, and a woman who stirs in him a desire he thought buried with his beloved wife.

Mia Selwyn lives in the shadows, an unwanted poor relation in the house of her viscount uncle. When her cousin’s hoydenish attempt to meet the supposed heir sees her drenched, ill, and in need of nursing, Mia is sent to care for her. Though warned to stay clear of the despised Kendrick, she is drawn into the dark undercurrents among the mismatched collection of residents and enthralled by the enigmatic Mr. Kendrick.

She quickly realizes he is not the monster he is rumored to be, twisted in body and mind. Instead, he is a resilient resourceful man with a deep love of family. As family, household servants, and villagers take sides on whether Gideon is the source of all the estate’s problems or its salvation, Mia and Gideon forge a partnership. Together they struggle to unravel secrets and the tangle Phillip left behind, and in the process, find a future for themselves.

Free with Kindle Unlimited or purchase the book at https://www.amazon.com/Duke-Name-Entitled-Gentlemen-Book-ebook/dp/B0BJS3GDN7/

And where is the duke? Find out in Duke in Name Only https://www.amazon.com/Duke-Name-Only-Entitled-Gentlemen-ebook/dp/B0C1L3L968

The Author

Caroline Warfield, Bluestocking Belle and author of books featuring cheeky lads, resourceful ladies, and heroes of the loyal and protective variety who need the occasional push in the right direction.

https://www.carolinewarfield.com/

Whispers from the Sewing Room

By Alina K. Field

On October 22, 2025

In Teatime Tattler

Dear Readers,

This intriguing on dit arrived in the post only this morning and is too important to not be immediately shared! Read on:

It is not every day that a bride, standing before her seamstress in satin and lace, finds her past walking through the very door. Yet that is precisely what befell Miss Mary Ann, a young lady of impeccable breeding and, if society whispers are to be believed, unyielding devotion.

Three years ago, Miss Mary Ann was betrothed to none other than Viscount Quinton Hollingsworth. Handsome, dashing, and destined for glory, he marched away to war with his regiment. Letters went unanswered, inquiries to the War Department yielded nothing but silence, and eventually, the most dreaded word passed from lip to lip: dead.

And yet some said otherwise. Murmurs of capture and imprisonment flickered in drawing rooms, though none dared to repeat them too loudly. Miss Mary Ann, it is said, spared no effort to learn the truth, petitioning anyone who might listen. Still, years passed. And while loyalty is a fine quality, society does not wait forever. Family honor, and perhaps practicality, demanded she look to another match.

Enter her new fiancé, respectable if not remarkable, and the forthcoming wedding that promised to secure her future. The gown was nearly complete, the veil chosen, and pins set to hem the satin when the impossible occurred. The sewing room door opened, and in stepped the viscount himself. Alive. Altered. A soldier returned from three years in captivity, his eyes shadowed by the past yet fixed on only one thing, the bride who had once vowed him her heart.

What happened next is a matter of lively debate. One maid insists the pins scattered across the floor, pricked from trembling fingers. A cousin swears Miss Mary Ann swayed as though the room itself tilted. And the seamstress, most eager to embellish, claims she saw the gentleman drop to one knee, though no one has corroborated so daring a tale.

Now all of London hums with questions. Will Miss Mary Ann honor the vow made in youth, rekindled by devotion so fierce it survived both war and silence? Or will she proceed with her new match, bowing to duty and family arrangement?

Some declare her bound to the viscount by love itself. Others argue that years lost cannot be reclaimed, and society will not forgive a jilting at the altar. As for the viscount, those who glimpsed his return say he has the look of a man who has already decided what he will not lose twice.

One thing is certain: when Miss Mary Ann walks down the aisle, all eyes will be upon her, not to admire the lace or the satin, but to see which vow she chooses to keep.

And rest assured, dear readers, this correspondent shall keep both ears pressed most attentively to the keyhole, for scandal, as we all know, has never been so elegantly attired.

But then, vows are made to be tested, are they not?

A Vow for the Viscount

Secrets don’t stay buried. Neither does love.

When Viscount Quinton Hollingsworth returns after three years missing, he finds Mary-Ann Seaton caught in a dangerous game of secrets, shadows, and betrayal. She once vowed to love him forever. Now she doesn’t know if she can trust him at all. But when the truth puts both their lives at risk, they’ll have to decide if love—and the promises they once made—are worth fighting for.

Discover the truth in A Vow for the Viscount: Now available at https://books2read.com/BB-Vow4Viscount

Available on Kindle Unlimited and in paperback wherever books are sold.

Barrington’s Brigade

Barrington’s Brigade follows six war-forged officers who return to England as titled gentlemen, only to find themselves embroiled in a secret society’s dangerous legacy. Bound by loyalty and haunted by the past, each must navigate peril, politics, and passion in pursuit of truth and love.

Book 1 – A Marriage for the Marquess
A marriage of convenience, a game of hearts.

Book 2 – A Dilemma for the Duke
In a game of loyalty and lies, surrendering to love is the boldest move of all.

Book 3 – A Redemption for the Baron
A tale of love and sacrifice, where the path to justice leads straight through the heart.

Book 4 – A Vow for the Viscount
Two hearts. One reckoning. A vow that changes everything.

Book 5 – A Reckoning for the Earl (January 2026)
When trust cuts deep and love even deeper, reckoning isn’t optional.

Book 6 – A Masquerade for the Baron (April 2026)
Stolen kisses. Ruthless enemies. A love unmasked.

If you’ve missed getting any of the stories, here is the series link https://amzn.to/4888I8Y

***

And if one whisper is never enough, there is more yet to be discovered…

And for those who cannot resist following the trail of whispers beyond this page, you are cordially invited to a most unusual gathering. Today, October 22, the ladies and gentlemen of the ton will not gather in one place, but in six, a Progressive Literary Feast, where each stop promises scandal, secrets, and delight. As a matter of fact, Teatime Tattler served the first course of our literary ‘dinner.’ And as you can see, I’ve reserved a seat just for you.

Editor’s Whisper (scribbled in haste before the ink dried):

If you think this morsel of scandal is enough to satisfy, dear reader, you are mistaken. What you’ve tasted here is but the first course in a most extravagant affair.

Today, October 22, 2025, we throw open the doors to a Progressive Literary Feast, an after-party of sorts, in honor of the recent release of A Vow for the Viscount. Each course will be served in its proper place, with whispers, wagers, and wicked delights aplenty.

💫 The feast begins early… but no worries if you’re late to the table. Each course will remain open to enjoy all day, so you can join whenever you like.

Here’s where the gossips shall gather:

Amuse-Bouche — Served first on Substack
A Whiff of Scandal — A cheeky character letter or intercepted note sets the tone with whispers and wit.

First Course — Then at the Tea Time Tattler Blog (that’s here)
Gossip & Giggles — The Tattler uncovers something utterly improper from Sommer-by-the-Sea.

Main Course — Fellow Traveler Takeover
Games, Secrets & Merriment — Games, giveaways, and swoon-worthy secrets await.

Cheese Course — Coffee Time Romance Post
Indulgence & Intimacy — Unlock bonus content (and my personal thanks) with a secret Salon password.

Dessert — The Tea Room Takeover
Proper Mischief — A lively hour of scandal, sass, and surprises with the Tea Room crowd.

Nightcap — My Facebook Author Page
Reflections & Farewell Toast — Raise a glass as we wrap the day with gratitude, joy, and a glimpse of what’s next.

💫 Gossip, as always, is free. But the love story? It will cost you $3.99 and it is worth every vow.

#RegencyRomance #HistoricalRomance #TeaTimeTattler #ScandalAndSecrets #RomanceReaders #BookishGossip,

Love is in the Air

By Alina K. Field

On February 24, 2024

In Teatime Tattler

Take a leap into love…

Dear Reader,

We’ve sent an intrepid reporter to a most interesting gathering in the town of Upper Upton in Sussex. It is not often one sees a Viscount, an Earl, and a Marquess and their ladies gather to attend the wedding of an innkeeper.

However, not only did these esteemed peers attend, but the bride, a young widow of seemingly no importance, was escorted down the aisle on the arm of the marquess.

The whole event had the air of a rowdy country fair. Why, even a houseful of children from a nearby charity home piled into the church and attended the breakfast that followed.

Why? we ask.

It seems that the groom is a military comrade of the valiant peers who fought so bravely in defense of England; further, the bride has a connection with none other than the marchioness, Lady W. who we have written about in this earlier dispatch: Secrets and Lies.

Have no fear, we will report more on this story as soon as we learn more.

~~~~~

A Leap Into Love

Can a gentleman be too charming? The ladies of Upper Upton think so.

And it’s almost Leap Day, when a man who refuses a lady’s proposal of marriage must offer a forfeit.

When the single ladies of the village conspire to teach their charmer a lesson that might bankrupt him, the town’s loveliest young widow steps up to warn him.

His secrets and hers make them a perfect match—and she’s the lady he wants. But she won’t accept his proposal, not even to rescue him.

As Leap Day approaches, the clock is ticking. Can he convince her in time to say yes to his offer and take a leap into love?

Excerpt

When the Ladies’ Society for the Improvement of Village Life gathered, discussions could drag on.

Mrs. Myra Smith stood at a distance, watching the exhalation of so much talk fog the air in the unheated assembly rooms of the Royal George Inn. From her station near the door, she kept an eye on the boy who’d marched off to the far end of the room, away from the ladies.

The Society’s grandiose title always made Myra smile. Stuffy-sounding though it might be, the Ladies’ Society did have a valuable purpose. Village life could be dull, and didn’t she know that well.

It could also be closed-minded, a trap Myra was always dodging. She was here today representing Longview, the nearby children’s home that had brought so many interesting characters to Upper Upton—the teachers, ladies of questionable background like herself, and the children, London’s outcasts, who’d found shelter, and training, and love.

Longview had been generously endowed by the Lords Cathmore, Hackwell, and Wallenford, much as their lordships had endowed this whole village, trying to make the residents of Longview more palatable to the good citizens of Upper Upton. Even this inn had been thoroughly modernized and expanded. Their lordships had even plucked the handsome innkeeper from among their former military comrades.

Thoughts of the man reminded her, she and Barty should be on their way. “The room is quite adequate to your needs,” Myra said. “The children and I shall certainly see to—”

The door to the assembly rooms whooshed open, silencing her.

A wide smile flashed her way, and she caught her breath. “Mr. Grant,” she said with a clipped curtsy, remembering what she was dealing with.

True to his nature, Alexander Grant turned that handsome gaze on the other three ladies and bowed all around. “Such loveliness brightens the dreary aspects of this day.”

His grin widened, and his dark hair sparkled in the light from a tall window. The cold February rain had dampened his coats and breeches and ruddied his cheeks under the dark stubble. Warmth rose in Myra. She shook herself, searching for words.

Buy Link: https://books2read.com/ALeapIntoLove

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature, but prefers the much happier world of romance fiction. Though her roots are in the Midwestern U.S., after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern California where she shares a midcentury home with her two rescued dogs, a spunky, blonde terrier and a super-friendly chihuahua.

Find her at:

http://alinakfield.com/

https://www.facebook.com/alinakfield

https://twitter.com/AlinaKField

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alina-k-field

Newsletter signup: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z6q6e3

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alina-K.-Field/e/B00DZHWOKY

News of a Rushed Wedding

By Alina K. Field

On December 23, 2023

In Teatime Tattler

Dear Reader,

Most interesting news has arrived. A wedding apparently has taken place officiated by a very high-ranking clergyman. I herewith share a partial letter I received from our local correspondent:

My Dear Mr. Clemens,

I hasten to send you this news, though I daresay given the state of the roads it won’t reach you before the event I report has occurred. Wet, wetter, and wettest; that is how this weather has been. I only pray that my report reaches you safely, for it is a—dare I say—juicy revelation.

To begin at the beginning, the esteemed and ancient Episcopal See which I will refrain from naming is to be the sight of a wedding—a rather rushed wedding to be officiated by no less than a bishop–between a high-ranking young clergyman and a local woman, the hired companion of one of the prosperous parishioners.

As to how this came about, you must have heard in town about the abysmal snowstorm that struck locally on Twelfth Night. The soon to be happy pair (or already happy, if this letter is delayed) found themselves on an improvident—dare I say imprudent—social call and snowbound. Sheltering together in a vacant cottage, they spent an entire night alone together before returning and announcing their engagement.

If it would not be indelicate, I might add that one would hardly doubt what went on that night. Those acquainted with the happy groom found the affair shocking. Parishioners had thought him to be upright and sober. (Though there were, of course, others who found his probity veering toward the pompous.)

Ah, but the next piece of news will explain everything. Concerning the bride

~~~

Dear Readers,

The roads must have been wet indeed, for the rest of this letter has been soaked beyond my ability to trace the letters.

I shall endeavor to find out more of this interesting story for you in my next edition.

Or, you can find out more in Twelfth Night Treasure, by Alina K. Field, in Christmastide Kisses, a Bluestocking Belles Collection with Friends

The Bluestocking Belles and Friends brighten your holidays with:

A beleaguered uncle whose wards have run off every governess–what he needs is a wife, if only he can persuade the latest applicant
A country solicitor who becomes an earl and then finds a secret that changes everything
A very proper clergyman who battles very improper urges when he and a lady with a murky past find themselves snowbound
A viscount whose search to unearth generations-old family secrets kindles the fire of love for his lovely search partner
A former army captain who wonders if the best friend of his ex-fiancee is the woman he should have married
A vicar with a misspent youth and the duke’s daughter who brings out the best in him

Six gentlemen and the ladies with whom they discover the power of a Christmastide Kiss.

Release date: December 26, 2023

Pre-order your copy for only 99 cents:

https://books2read.com/u/m26VG6

Goings-on at Lord C’s Estate

By Alina K. Field

On November 25, 2023

In Teatime Tattler

My dear Clarissa,

Such goings on we have had here in Kent at F Manor with our new Lord C and his mother and their house party guests!

We, of course were invited tonight to dinner and the ball that followed. Lord C’s mother, Mrs. Y, puts on such airs, if you ask me, and was in a fair snit when the weather gods had the nerve to spoil her plans for a late night of dancing. It was a perilous and very wet walk home—yes, my beloved refused to take out the carriage—and though I was soaked and chilled to my bones, I could not rest tonight until I put pen to paper and write to you.

I tell you, Clarissa, there is something funny about that woman, Mrs. Y, and that household, with servants coming and going as if Lord C… Well, anyone could see that his attention was on one guest in particular, a Scots lady, in a very fine gown though I couldn’t work out whether she fancied him or not.

There are wedding bells on the horizon, mark my words, if he can but convince that red-haired hoyden to accept, and if he can untie his mother’s apron strings. Not that Mrs. Y would condescend to wear one of those.

But oh, what a grand pool of interesting tidbits there were, for those who could see, like you and me, my dearest friend. No less than a duke and his duchess, a marquess—a very shady one if I do say so, and I do—and our Sir H, (you remember I wrote that he is home now?) whispering in the corner with the shady marquess’s sister.

What occurred after we left? And what will the morrow bring? I have fortuitously left behind my vinaigrette—my old one, not the silver filigree case you sent me for Christmas. My Betsy will fetch it back for me tomorrow, along with whatever news she can learn. She is very good at ferreting out information.

I just may have a juicy ondit for Mr. Clemens at the Teatime Tattler!

I must hasten to bed. My lord and master is calling.

Your dear friend,

Harriet

The Earl’s Scottish Hoyden

When her family’s business reunites a Scottish lass with the English earl who jilted her last Christmas, she vows, by all means, to protect her heart.

Edme Beecham was not disappointed in love last Christmas when Lord Cottingwith abruptly departed the Duke of Kinmarty’s Yuletide party. No, the Earl was too old to be so shy, but there it was. He’d latched on to her own talkative self because he’d found Edme, a girl among a multitude of brothers of all ages, comfortable company.

Thus, when an invitation to join a Yuletide party at Furningwood, his family’s estate, arrives, she’s alarmed to feel her hopes rising, and determined to stay home. But the earl is a valuable political and business connection, and her brother insists she go.

After one youthful lapse, Trenton Yardley, Earl of Cottingwith, has set about being a better man than his late uncle and cousin, and restoring the fortunes of his family, without submitting himself to the sort of fortune-hunting marriage his mother wants for him. He has a secret, and only the right woman will do for him, one with a generous heart and a sense of humor. He’d thought he’d found her last year in Edme Beecham, but an emergency had called him home before he could press his suit further.

The cold, aloof girl who appears at his home for Christmas could not be his Scottish hoyden, could she?

The Earl’s Scottish Hoyden is a standalone romance, Book 5 in The Upstart Christmas Brides Series.

Release day is December 5, 2023.

Universal Pre-order Link:

https://books2read.com/TheEarlsScottishHoyden

About the author

USA Today bestselling author and Bluestocking Belle Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature but prefers the happier world of romance fiction. Her roots are in the Midwestern U.S., but after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern California where she shares a midcentury home with a golden-eyed terrier and a feisty chihuahua.

Find her at:

Website: https://alinakfield.com/

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alina-K.-Field/e/B00DZHWOKY

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alinakfield

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlinaKField

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alina-k-field

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173518.Alina_K_Field

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alinakf/

Newsletter signup: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z6q6e3