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Tag: Virginia Heath

Asking For A Friend…

Dear Mr Clemens,

I have a friend who is at her wits end and doesn’t know what to do, but she enjoys your newspaper even if she can only read it very slowly and has seen you have offered your sage advice to many others before her. I shan’t tell you her name because the situation is very delicate, and she is likely very soon to become engaged to a Duke, so I must preserve her good reputation.

asking for a friendI say likely, because the whole ton expects the announcement eagerly, and they have done for over a year. I cannot imagine why he is dragging his feet because my friend is considered very beautiful and charming. Yet not only has he failed to ask her, he’s also never bothered trying to steal a kiss either which is very odd. Especially as she’s lauded as an incomparable and had men queuing for her hand before the duke came along.

In truth, he rather scared everyone else off and I had my head turned… I mean my friend did. Who wouldn’t want to marry a duke? Even if this one is a little dull and pads his jackets… only talks about himself…

But I digress, because whilst my friend has been doing absolutely everything in her power- short of smacking him across his arrogant head with her fan to chivvy him into a proposal- there has been another complication.

An unforeseen, unexpected and utterly thrilling complication.

She’s met another man and is inexplicably drawn to him. He’s not noble- not by any chalk- but he is kind and handsome, painfully shy and most definitely does not need to pad out his jacket! I know this because I accidentally encountered him stripped to the waist at my sister’s house a few months ago and I have been entirely unable to dismiss the scandalously magnificent picture of his manly body from my mind.

And he’s a spy! On an important government mission. A secret he entrusted only to me… I mean my friend… when she recognized him pretending to be someone else. Now she is helping him navigate the murky waters of society, a place he feels very uncomfortable within, and in return he is going to make my, er, the duke jealous to hasten the anticipated engagement. Which is marvellous, I suppose, although I’m not entirely sure I want things sped along now that I’ve met Seb… I mean since she met him.

What should my friend do?

Yours sincerely

Befuddled of Berkeley Square

About the Book, The Mysterious Lord Millcroft

Life as a duchess… Or something much more dangerous…?

Constantly told her beauty and charm is all she has to offer, Lady Clarissa is intent on marrying a duke. And intriguing spy Sebastian Leatham will help her! Only first she’ll assist him with his new assignment—playing the part of confident aristocrat Lord Millcroft. Sebastian awakens a burning desire within Clarissa which leaves her questioning whether becoming a duchess is what she truly longs for…
Purchase on Amazon

About the Author

When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. But it still takes her ages to fall asleep.

Website: https://www.virginiaheathromance.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virginiaheathauthor/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/VirginiaHeath_

 

An Unexpected End to the Wincanton-Stuart Feud?

Dear Readers,

Like many of you, last night witnessed the scandalous, public ruination of Lady Constance Stuart at the Renshaw Ball by Mr Aaron Wincanton. Mr Wincanton, who has recently returned a hero from the Peninsular, and Lady Constance were found in flagrante in the library by none other than the lady’s own fiancé and a huge crowd of eager onlookers. However, what you may not yet know, is that despite the bitter feud between the two families I received word that Lord Aaron procured a special licence and married the girl before the sun had risen the very next morning. 12498710_552117861604451_573223318_nThe unlikely newlyweds removed themselves promptly from town to honeymoon at the Wincanton estate- Ardleigh Manor. Obviously, spurred on by my desire to provide you, dear rear, with all of the pertinent facts, I followed. Fortunately, the groom himself granted me this short interview which I print here for your titillation and amusement.

S. Clemens

Lord Aaron, it is fair to say your hasty marriage surprised a great many of us, especially in view of the long and bitter feud between the Stuart and Wincanton families and the fact that Lady Constance was already engaged to the Marquis of Deal. Is it true, the Earl of Redbridge has disowned his only daughter?

That is merely rumour and speculation. The earl happily gave us his blessing to marry. We had a cosy ceremony in his own study.

Then the three-hundred-year old feud is over?

Not exactly. Relations between our respective fathers are still… tense, however, I am hopeful, given time, this situation will improve once they see how happy my darling Constance and I am together.

That is interesting and contrary to what I have been told. My sources have reliably informed me that Lady Constance said, and I quote, ‘I would rather be cast out onto the streets than marry a vile Wincanton’ just minutes before the wedding ceremony. Those are hardly the words of a happy woman.

My Connie has a warped sense of humour at times Mr Clemens. She was merely joking. We are deeply in love. We tried to resist our strong feelings for each other, but alas, we could not. Like Romeo and Juliet, our love was too strong for a silly feud to prevent us from being together. But unlike Romeo and Juliet, our love story has a happy ending.

c0f37ed4af81d59182fa2Jacques Louis David. French1748-1845 Portrait presumed to be of his Jailer1794I see- if you do not mind me saying, that is a very impressive, purple bump you are sporting on your forehead. I overheard the servants saying you received it when your devoted, love-struck wife threw a projectile at you. Would you care to comment?

Oh that was merely a misunderstanding. One of those silly tiffs couples have from time to time. Connie discovered me reading The Taming of the Shrew and assumed I was consulting the play for tips on how to deal with her. She threw the book at me- quite literally as it turned out- because like all redheads she does have a fiery temper. I can assure you all is cordial between us again now.

Lady Constance does have rather vibrant red hair and she is a very… statuesque woman. Has she forgiven you for branding her with the unfortunate nickname you gave her at her come-out?

Again, another misunderstanding Mr Clemens. Connie is well aware I said what I did in jest and I had no idea the name would stick for so many years. In fact, I was shocked to hear it still being used when I returned from the war.

She must be a very understanding lady indeed to not be offended at being called the Ginger Amazonian, especially as the name has stuck. I do believe your expression gives you away Mr Wincanton. Did I just see you wince?

I am not particularly proud of myself Mr Clemens, if that is what you are alluding to, however Constance is a forgiving, good-natured woman and she realises I was very young and foolish when I came up with that terrible name. It is all water under the bridge now that we are so happily married.

So happily married that she throws books at you and has locked herself in her bedchamber and has refused to come out since her arrival?

I shan’t keep you Mr Clemens. It is a long drive back to London and I am sure you are keen to be on your way…

UntitledAbout the Book

Scandal broke last night when Lady Constance Stuart was discovered in the arms of Aaron Wincanton, the son of her family’s greatest enemy! But now we can reveal an even more shocking development. Our sources say a special license was obtained and the two were married before sunrise!

It’s been confirmed that Aaron has stolen his new bride away to the country to begin their unexpected marriage. We’ll be watching closely to see exactly what happens when a gentleman invites his enemy into his bed…

 Amazon link: http://amzn.to/242XLtS

About the Author

When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Her first Regency Romance, That Despicable Rogue, was published in May 2016 by Harlequin and Her Enemy at the Altar is published this month. Despite this, it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Website: http://www.virginiaheathromance.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VirginiaHeath_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virginiaheathauthor

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