Writing my new series, The Eardley of Gostwicke Hall, has been lots of fun because I’m a huge Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer fan. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I won’t write steamier Regencies ever again.
I’ve had some questions about the Eardleys, so I thought that I’d answer them here.
Clean Regency romance: questions about the Eardley novels
My initial inspiration for the Eardleys series was a household solely of women in the Regency era. The women would be well off, and part of the beau monde; the fashionable world. However, the ladies would also be country women. They’d have experiences which urban women wouldn’t have.
The Eardley ladies all love their family estate, Gostwicke Hall, and country living makes them less sheltered than most Regency ladies. Moreover, Catherine, the eldest Eardley daughter, is protective. She won’t allow anyone to hurt her sisters, nor to gossip about them.
Now, the questions.
How many books in the series?
Initially, I aimed at six books. However, there may be more — it depends on readers. I wanted to take the family up to 1820, which is nominally the end of the Regency period.
Who’s the main character in Book 4?
Lady Jane Vernon, introduced in Anne’s story. Anne hires her to tutor Eva Bywater; then she becomes Anne’s estate secretary, helping Mr. Kettering. Jane’s formed a tendre for Major Baker-Cornhill, which isn’t a good thing — and she’s determined to overcome it, because he’s a rake. And a dangerous man in other ways too.
Why doesn’t Catherine divorce Major Grove?
Divorces weren’t easy in the Regency era; they required an Act of Parliament. Not only were they almost impossible to obtain, they caused a huge scandal which affected every member of two extended families.
Catherine would never consider divorce. She understands her husband. They’re separated, and she usually manages to outwit him.
Additionally, when a woman divorced, her husband still controlled the children. Catherine doesn’t have children, but she’s very protective of her sisters, and would never allow anything to harm their standing in the ton.
I hope you enjoy the Eardleys, and if you have questions, please ask. 🙂
Her sister Catherine believes that Elaine's hair tells you everything that you need to know about her. It's flame-red. When Sir Oliver Destry trifles with Elaine, she decides on revenge. Elaine soon discovers the truth of the old saying that if you want to make the gods laugh, just tell them your plans.
Although he's a prize on the Marriage Mart, wealthy and twice-widowed Lord Delmere thinks that nothing could ever tempt him to marry again. Until he meets the lovely Lady Kingston.
Henry (Henrietta) Eardley makes a huge mistake. Then she makes it worse. She's never known a man like Lord Devernwood, and he's never met a woman like her.
Julia doesn't know whether to be amused or angry when Lord Lyneham decides to find her a husband. He and Julia's cousin take charge of Julia's fortunes. Suddenly, Julia's an heiress and her life changes.
