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A Bucket of Water For a Lady

On June 6, 2026

To S. Clemens, Teatime Tattler

Sam, I found this in the alley behind the Lyon’s Den. It seems like part of a letter and it must have fallen from a window or someone’s pocket. Interesting, don’t you think. Bill.

Something odd happened at work today, Frannie. I had delivered a tea tray to Mrs. Dove Lyon with a message that had just arrived. She told me to wait to see if there was an answer, so I was polishing the desk under the window when I saw Mrs. Dove Lyon take another sip of her tea and once again read the note in her lap. It must be amusing, for she was smiling when she looked up from it and spoke, as if to herself. “You have asked me for one match, child. I rather think I shall be giving you two.”

After that, she said to me. “I need two buckets of warm soapy water, Molly,” she said. “Order them from the kitchen and have them sent to the window immediately above the ladies’ entrance to the Den. Also, send Titan to me.”

I hurried to carry out my orders, but I was, I must admit, curious, and I made sure to linger near the window after delivering my messages.

Imagine my surprise when I saw two of Titan’s wolves pouring water on a lady who had was about to enter by the door below!

I could not understand it, so when I went to collect the tea tray and saw the note, I couldn’t help myself. I read it, Frannie. It was in a schoolgirl hand and as best as I can remember, it said, after the usual salutations:

My dear Lady Ellen, is reluctant to accept a new gown for the meeting, though I have assured her that first impressions are everything. Is there any way you could arrange an accident for her gown so that she has to change into the clothing you have prepared for her? And preferably, to have her hair done in a more becoming style. I shall ensure that we are early for the meeting with your proposed groom.

With my grateful thanks for everything you have done.

I remain your humble servant.

Fivepenny.

What do you think of that? Fivepenny, of course, is the handsome footman who has been delivering game and produce to Mrs. Dove Lyon from the Lady of Carr Abbas. How odd that a wealthy and landed young lady would not have a gown in which to meet a prospective groom.

Mrs. Dove Lyon was equal to the task, of course. No wonder she is the most preeminent matchmaker in London. But what do you suppose she meant by “two matches?”

To W. Snoop, reporter

Bill, forget it. It is interesting, yes, but I know better than to tangle with Mrs. Dove Lyon. Besides, we don’t want to cause trouble for a poor working girl. Sam.

Marriage is the only way to keep Kat’s lady safe…

When her mistress is put out of her childhood home, Kat goes too. She may be only Miss Ellen’s maid, but she has a plan to secure a future for them both. But first, she needs to give Miss Ellen a male escort, for propriety’s sake. Kat herself, dressed as a footman, complete with a fine pair of boots.

Jake has been looking after his employer since they both came home for the war. The captain drinks too much and gambles too much. And now he has come to the attention of the Black Widow of Whitehall. Could a wife be in the offing? Perhaps a wife is just what the captain needs.

But, while the captain is happy with the lady Mrs. Dove Lyon has chosen, Jake has discovered that the lady conceals a secret that could destroy everything. The Lady of Carr Abbass cannot possibly be who she says she is.

… and the one dream for herself Kat thought would never be fulfilled

https://www.amazon.com/Lyon-Lady-Fine-Pair-Boots-ebook/dp/B0GZ8YG4WL/

For more books from Jude Knight, see: https://judeknightauthor.com/books/

A Tale of a Loyal Knight and a Headstrong Lady

By Alina K. Field

On May 20, 2026

In Teatime Tattler

Dearest Gentle Reader,

This edition of the Teatime Tattler has a treat for you!

Lest you think gossip is the invention of a more civilized society abundant in idle pastimes, let me remind you that one of our oldest bits of scandal in the archives dates back nearly 800 years to the 13^th century. It would seem scandalous ladies, ne’er-do-well lords, and tittering maids are not just a thing of The Ton.

I have it on very good authority that a certain Lord Hawk (leader of a deliciously dangerous band of warriors called the Band of Bastards) tried to charm a lady into spilling her secrets for his own gain! King Edward I of England may have commanded Hawk to find the traitor rumored to be lurking within Hawkspur Castle, but seducing the fair Lady Alyce, sister of the castle lord, in the name of duty is beyond the pale.

Nevertheless, that is exactly what the venerable Lord Hawk tried to do, but he was no match for the lady’s forthright candor and admirable loyalty to her family and the people of Hawkspur village. She may have looked like a shy, demure woman easily manipulated by the machinations of men…but that, dear reader, is exactly the type of woman to turn a man’s world upside down.

Before this scandalous story comes to its unexpected conclusion, bounds will be broken, hearts will be bruised, blood will be shed, a king will be defied, sheets will be twisted, bodies will intertwine, and a surprising victor will emerge from the rubble. Take it from me, this is a story far too titillating to tell in just a few paragraphs. The treason, intrigue, and passion (so, so much passion!) will keep you perched on the edge of your seat while you beg for your corset to be loosened so you may catch your breath.

Lucky for us, the story was captured in all of its glorious detail (thanks to the tittering maid with a penchant for love stories) in a tome titled Heart of the Hawk for your complete enjoyment. Do partake of this book and see for yourself that conniving, collusion, scandal, and scheming have been around since the dawn of time!

Heart of the Hawk

Can the love of a loyal knight and a headstrong lady survive the test of the king’s wrath?

“Hawk” Grogan, the king’s most trusted knight, has never failed a mission. When the king sends him to Hawkspur Castle in the Welsh Marches to uncover suspected treason, Hawk has every intention of getting to the truth at any cost. He soon learns, however, that there’s one factor in his plan that he hasn’t accounted for–Lady Alyce. The lord’s sister is obstinate, an incompetent liar, easily flustered, and completely beguiling.

Lady Alyce is reluctantly drawn to the brooding knight who trusts no one, roams the castle as if it is his own, and pricks her temper at every opportunity. She is desperate to prove to him that everyone at Hawkspur Castle, English and Welsh alike, is loyal to the king of England. As war erupts around her, she will do everything necessary to save her brother and the village she loves from ruin.

But something is amiss at Hawkspur and Lady Alyce is determined to discover what it is before Hawk can, despite her growing attraction to him. As plots are uncovered and alliances forged, the bond between Hawk and Alyce grows stronger, even as they are both forced to question whether the other can be trusted.

Will their opposing loyalties tear them apart? Or are they willing to forsake king and country to be together?

Purchase Links:

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/heart-of-the-hawk-lois-templin/21c42abb801fe14d?ean=9781963585223&next=t

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heart-of-the-hawk-lois-templin/1145015700?ean=9781963585223

Amazon: https://a.co/d/0aAmD4NH

About the Author

I’ve been making up stories to entertain myself for as long as I can remember and started writing stories soon after graduating college. But the road to becoming a published author has been a long one with many of life’s interruptions (mostly a very demanding day job). But I kept dreaming, and now I am a full-time writer!

I’m obsessed with medieval Great Britain, but especially 13th century England and Wales during the time of the Welsh battles for independence with King Edward I of England. Castles and knights captured my attention early on, so it’s no surprise that my books are medieval romances set in the Welsh March during the 13th century.

You can typically find me in Greece where I live in a seaside village with my own handsome hero. When not indulging in the amazing scenery and history of Greece, I like spending time with our son in Los Angeles, extended family in Minnesota, or exploring castles and countrysides in the UK and Europe.

You can find me at:

Webpage: www.LoisTemplin.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lois.templin.author/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lois.templin.author1

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loistemplinauthor

A Lost Slipper

By Alina K. Field

On April 15, 2026

In Teatime Tattler

Dearest Readers,

This author has it on the highest authority that the by-blow half-brother of the Duke of Crane is searching for a woman. Why is that gossip worthy, you may wonder? Well, given the shenanigans of the duke at the Lyon’s Den, do you even have to ask?

Danger lurks with this family!

There is a rumor that a slipper was lost, and that it is only a matter of time before Maxen Fury finds its owner. This author can only hope the lady in question has hidden herself exceedingly well, for the whispers surrounding the Fury men are enough to make even the boldest among us clutch our pearls.

This promises to be a forbidden entanglement of the highest order, if true.

But whether this tale ends in ruin or rapture, this author shall soon uncover more . . .

Sincerely,

Your Devoted Gossipmonger

Her Beast in Brighton

Blurb:

What if the beast you are running from is your prince charming?

When Lady Calliope Turner opens a candle shop in Brighton, all she wants is to escape her wicked stepmother, two vile stepsisters, and a plot to marry her off. She never dreamed she would witness a crime one night on her way to meet her merchant. What’s a woman to do? Run away, of course! And pray she never gets caught. Only, in her haste, she not only draws notice, but she loses a very damning slipper.

Maxen Fury, one of the seven bastard sons of the Duke of Crane, also known as the ruthless beast of Brighton’s underworld, rules his territories with an iron fist. His only goal is simple: to build an empire with his brothers so powerful that they never have to beg, bargain, or bleed again. But when a secret meeting goes awry and his newest tenant proves to be bright, defiant, and far more dangerous than she appears, Maxen finds himself facing the most inconvenient complication of his life.

As suspicion ignites into fascination and danger closes in, Calliope must decide whether she can trust the very man who hunts her . . . and Maxen must confront the one thing he never planned for—a woman who dares to see the man beneath the monster.

Can a man forged in darkness learn to protect the light he wants to claim? Or will his world devour her first?

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Her-Beast-Brighton-Historical-Bastards-ebook/dp/B0GRX8NSL1

About Tanya Wilde:

Award-Winning and International Bestselling author Tanya Wilde developed a passion for reading when she had nothing better to do than lurk in the library during her lunch breaks. Her love affair with pen and paper soon followed after she devoured all of their historical romance books!

When she’s not meddling in the lives of her characters or pondering names for her imaginary big, white greyhound, she’s off on adventures with her partner in crime.

Wilde lives in a town at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains, South Africa.

Two Return… One Coincidence?

By Alina K. Field

On January 28, 2026

In Teatime Tattler

And a shared legacy neither ever wanted.

Dearest readers, sharpen your quills, steady your teacups, and prepare yourselves for what may very well become the most discussed coincidence of the new year.

After five years abroad, Alexander Weld, Earl of Hawkesbury, has returned to Somerset under the somber veil of duty. The late Earl, his father, was laid to rest last week in a ceremony both dignified and discreet. Those present report that Lord Hawkesbury conducted himself with composure befitting his station, though there was a gravity about him that spoke of burdens carried beyond grief alone.

And yet, here is where the matter becomes irresistible.

On that very same week, and in the very same corner of the county, another familiar figure made her reappearance: Lady Georgina Ravenstock, widow of the late Baron Ravenstock, who suffered a fatal accident just over a year ago.

Lady Georgina, known for her grace, steady composure, and impeccable poise, returned to Somerset supposedly to “tend to household affairs.” Such a practical explanation might satisfy a less inquisitive publication… but we at the Tattler have noticed patterns too precise to ignore.

For instance:

The First Pattern:

Lady Georgina and Lord Hawkesbury were once, how shall we phrase it? frequently observed in each other’s company prior to the Earl’s extended absence. One might even describe their former connection as promising, had fate not intervened in its usual inconvenient fashion.

The Second Pattern:

Upon her return, Lady Georgina has been seen meeting with solicitors, land agents, and senior stewards at an unusual rate. One might assume she is simply reacquainting herself with her late husband’s affairs… yet the frequency of these consultations suggests matters more pressing than routine ledgers.

The Third Pattern:

Lord Hawkesbury, according to our reliable source at the estate, has likewise been engaged in a flurry of meetings, most notably with individuals not typically summoned for mourning rituals or estate condolences. His steward has been tight-lipped, which is always the clearest indication that something is indeed afoot.

Now here is the detail that sends this reporter into raptures:

Several of these agents and advisors, Lady Georgina’s and Lord Hawkesbury’s alike, have been the very same individuals, met on the very same days, sometimes even within the same hour.

Coincidence? We leave that to you, dear readers.

Could there exist a business matter, a legal entanglement, perhaps, that binds these two prominent figures in an unexpected and undeniably delicate way? Might their futures (and fortunes!) now be more intertwined than either one anticipated?

Those who witnessed their reunion at the churchyard whispered that the air between them was… charged. Not with impropriety, no, our Lady Georgina would never allow such a thing, but with something older. Something unfinished. Something neither grief nor time seems to have erased.

What business could require such coordinated attention?

What matter could draw these two back into the same orbit after so many years apart?

And, most deliciously of all:

What happens when a shared responsibility forces two hearts, with history, to navigate a future neither expected?

Rest assured, readers, the Tattler shall continue watching. Closely.

Yours in perpetual vigilance,

A Lady Who Never Sleeps

What happens when an earl and a widow discover they must face the past—together?

Find out in:

A Reckoning for the Earl

Some legacies must be claimed. Others survived.

Alexander Weld, grieving the loss of his wife, joins the army and returns home five years later as the new Earl of Hawkesbury. He is confronted with unrest among his father’s coal miners and seeks the help of his former commanding officer, Captain Barrington. In the midst of this, he reconnects with Lady Georgina Ravenstock, an old friend, and is drawn to her beauty and charm. Lady Georgina also feels a rekindled attraction to Weld and decides to spend the summer with him in Sommer by the Sea.

As their friendship grows, they hesitate to pursue a deeper relationship out of respect for their deceased loved ones. Weld works to improve conditions for the coal miners, and during an inspection of the mines, Lady Georgina misunderstands a warning bell and rushes to the scene, fearing an accident. Weld races to her side to keep her safe and discovers her misunderstanding. Weld and Lady Georgina must confront their feelings and decide whether to hold onto the past or take a chance on a new love.

Through their struggles, will they find hope and a future together? What happens when an earl and a widow discover they must face the past—together?

Find out in: A Reckoning for the Earl.

https://books2read.com/u/mZygG5

#HistoricalRomance #RegencyRomance #BarringtonsBrigade

Meet the Author
Ruth A. Casie is a USA Today bestselling author who writes sweeping historical romance adventures. From the rugged shores of medieval Scotland to the bustling streets of Regency London, her stories blend suspense, drama, and heart-melting emotion. Readers fall in love with her strong women and the heroes who deserve them as they race across the pages to find their happily ever after. Ruth hopes her tales become your next favorite adventures.

Where to Find Ruth

Website: https://ruthacasie.com/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthacasie/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ruthacasie

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ruthacasie

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ruthacasie.bsky.social

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Ruth-A-Casie

A Broken Carriage Wheel and a Coachman with an Itchy Trigger Finger

By Alina K. Field

On December 31, 2025

In Teatime Tattler

Dear Subscribers,

We at the Teatime Tattler are indebted to you for your faithful readership. We are closing out the year with this most interesting report. We wish all of you a most auspicious New Year!

Dear Reader,

Oh my, I just heard the most titillating on dits that I have to share with you! But first, I must reassure those of you who were more than a bit concerned about the situation between His Grace, the Duke of Wyndmere, and his stoic, strapping personal guard—I need a moment. Do excuse me while I have a sip of tea.

The situation within the duke’s protective guard has resolved itself. Those too-handsome-for-their-own-good Irishmen are formidable when their backs are against the wall, but if just a hint of danger is in the air surrounding the duke or his family, the true Celtic ferocity of these men roars to the surface. Be still my heart.

At to my last report, R.F. is happily married and enamored of his lovely wife and her darling four-year-old daughter. Now about D.F., two nights ago, at Lady Andrews’ musicale, I happened to hear that the third brother, D.F., stopped to lend aid to a carriage with a broken wheel near the baron’s estate. Of course he offered his strong back, to see what could be done to repair the damage, but alas, a new wheel was needed.

Apparently the youthful coachman was unnerved by D.F.—who wouldn’t be—and brandished a blunderbuss, though D.F. was only offering his aid and had no weapon in his hands. Can you credit it?

D.F., believing his offer should be accepted without question, stepped forward. Apparently this so startled the coachman, that he retreated, faltered and landed on his bottom… But, dear reader, there is more! The coachman’s finger was on the trigger and the weapon went off!

Though D.F., apparently nimble as well as strong, dove to the side but was hit with scatter shot. Incensed, as one could well imagine, he got to his feet and grabbed hold of the young man’s arm. The coachman’s slouch hat fell off to reveal a tumble of angel-blonde hair! Can you imagine the look on D.F.’s face? Time will tell if anything further comes of their meeting. Trust that I will deliver the latest—and hopefully delectable on dits that I suspect may follow.

Before I forget, R.F. has recovered with a manly scar across his cheek and rumors abound that his wife is expecting. I hope to hear something similar about D.F. which leaves F.F. the only man in the duke’s guard unwed. Rest assured, I shall do my utmost to relay any and all that I happen to hear about him.

There is hope, dear reader, that I shall soon be sharing details regarding these handsome-as-sin specimens of manhood. Fear not, for I shall press on and will report further on dits regarding the duke’s guard—I know how you rely on my excellent information. Rest assured, I shall share whatever I hear on this subject with the editor of this unimpeachable daily source of information.

The Duke’s Cavalier (The Duke’s Guard, Book 15)

Passion wrapped in determination, forged in the fire of her convictions… That is what Miss Phillipa Stanhope is made of.

This latest installment in C.H.’s fan-favorite series, The Duke’s Guard, has all of your favorite tropes, including Frenemies! Things are not always as they seem in this Regency Historical, and two women on the run with an infant are not necessarily guilty of kidnapping.

Flaherty stares down the muzzle of a blunderbuss. The coachman who won’t look him in the eye, and the wail of a newborn babe only complicates matters…

Nonplussed by the weapon pointed at his chest, Flaherty advances. Panicked, the young coachman steps backward, trips, and the gun goes off! Flaherty dives to the side, but catches some scattershot. Flaherty hauls the coachman to his feet, shakes him, and his hat falls off. A cascade of angel-blonde hair slips free, tangling around Flaherty’s wrist. The nick to Flaherty’s pride is equal to the wound in his side—he’s been bested by a woman!

Friends before they can walk and talk, Phillipa Stanhope would do anything to protect her widowed friend Millicent and her newborn son…

Millicent’s brother-in-law threatens to take her babe the moment it’s born! Though the risk of traveling right after giving birth is great to Millie and her infant son—Pippa knows they have no choice but to flee.

Though wounded, Flaherty takes charge and escorts the trio to Summerfield Chase for their safety. He keeps his distance from Pippa. When his temper cools down, and he hears the whole story, Flaherty has a change of heart and offers marriage to protect Pippa.

Pippa cannot leave her friend unprotected, and she bargains with Flaherty. If he agrees to let Millie and her babe live with them, she’ll accept his proposal. Before the special license arrives, an attempted kidnapping leaves Pippa injured, forcing them to realize the true depth of their feelings for one another. Three of Pippa’s older brothers arrive along with a surprise that complicates matters. On the heels of their arrival, a band of brigands arrive as a distraction, while Millie’s brother-in-law lures Pippa outside.

Danger stalks in the night, but it will have to get past The Duke’s Cavalier before he will let harm come to those he has sworn to protect with his strength, his honor, and his heart.

Excerpt:

From Chapter One

Flaherty studied him. From the cut of the lad’s threadbare brown coat, he wasn’t starving. It was the younger man’s pointed chin that seemed to be at odds with the fullness of the frame tucked inside of his coat. Either the lad was spending every bit of coin he had to eat, or he was wearing some kind of padding to make himself appear larger as a deterrent to ward off unsavory types. If so, why the disguise?

The breeze stilled, and yet the lad made no move. Flaherty studied what he could see of the boy’s face for a reaction that would tip him off to what he intended to do. He had a slightly pointed chin—smooth cheeks, no whiskers. His gaze dipped lower to a surprisingly full set of lips. Lower still to a slender neck with no visible…

Bloody hell!

“Show me your hands.” The young man’s voice cracked. “Palms facing me!”

The lad could not be more than five and ten summers, which could explain the lack of whiskers. But if the slender chin and the mouth of a temptress meant what Flaherty feared, the lad and whoever was inside the carriage were going to be trouble! As his mind put the odd pieces of the puzzle together, his gut screamed not to trust what he saw—but to trust in what he felt. He swallowed the string of curses and held his tongue.

Before he unmasked the lad’s charade, the wail of an infant stopped him. But it was the accompanying feminine-sounding gasp coming from inside the carriage that decided Flaherty’s course of action. “I’ll keep me hands at me sides if it’s all the same to ye.” He took a step forward and froze when the blunderbuss wobbled. “Did yer da not teach ye if ye pick up a weapon, ye’d best be prepared to use it?”

The silence irritated Flaherty, but it was the morning chill and wail of the infant that spurred him to act. He advanced. The lad took a step backward, promptly fell on his arse, and the gun went off!

Flaherty dove to the side and swore a blue streak. His side burned, and his temper shot straight to boiling as he sprang to his feet. The indignity of misjudging the lad, and getting shot for his trouble by someone half his age, pushed him over the edge. The dark side of his temper took hold of him. He grabbed the blunderbuss, tugged the lad to his feet, and shook him until his hat fell off.

Flaherty growled, “Bloody hell!”

Buy Link: https://www.chadmirand.com/books/historical-romances/the-dukes-guard-series/the-dukes-cavalier/

About the Author:

If we have not met yet, I’m delighted to meet you! Here’s a little bit about me…

I’m a Dragonblade Publishing Bestselling Author. I believe in Love at First Sight, Happily Ever After, and that DJ is waiting for me in Heaven.

I have been writing romance novels for almost half my life, well at least for the last 32 years. I’m a diehard romantic and have to confess the broad shoulders and wicked glint in the brilliant green eyes of a stranger had my breath snagging in my breast, my heart beating madly, and my future flashing before my eyes. At the age of seventeen, I’d met the man I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with.

I write Historical & Contemporary Romance featuring characters that I know so well: hardheaded heroes and feisty heroines! They rarely listen to me and in fact, I think they enjoy messing with my plans for them. Over the years I have learned to listen to them! I have always used family names in my books and love adding bits and pieces of my ancestors and ancestry in them, too!

C.H.’s Social Media Links:

Website:

https://www.chadmirand.com

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/C.-H.-Admirand/author/B001JPBUMC

BookBub:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-h-admirand

Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/CHAdmirandAuthor

Facebook Private Group: C.H.’s Awesome Book Friends
https://www.facebook.com/groups/998106461972540

GoodReads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/212657.C_H_Admirand