The Reality of Life for Regency Women – Guest Post by Mary Gillgannon

Based on books and movies, the Regency era seems like a lovely, romantic time period. Who doesn’t thrill to the idea of attending balls wearing scrumptious gowns and dancing with elegant gentlemen in waistcoats, tall boots and tight breeches? Nurtured on a diet of delicious fiction, it’s easy to long to return to an era that seems both more glamorous and yet simpler than our own.

But the fact is, the reality of life for women in the Regency time period (and the Victorian and quite a few years after that), wasn’t always so lovely. Females had few rights, including not being able to own property, at least in the sense they can today. They could inherit land, but some man always controlled it. A male relative or appointed guardian, and when they married, their husband.

That unpleasant reality was the inspiration for my historical romance, Wicked Wager.

When her parents die, Penelope (Penny) Montgomery inherits Horngate, but control of the estate falls to her ne’er-do-well cousin, Adrian. When he loses the estate in a card game, her fate is sealed. The only way the man who has won the property can take possession is to marry her.

Some men would balk at the idea of marrying a woman to collect a gambling debt. But not Marcus Revington. As a younger son, he knows this may be his only chance to own land and property. And he’s not going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers, even if it means marrying a woman he’s never met.

If Penny wasn’t so stubborn and independent, the story might end in the first few pages. But Penny’s parents allowed her a lot of freedom. She’s developed her own goals and priorities, and she’s not going to give them up without a fight. Although she won’t flat-out refuse to marry Marcus, she believes she can get her way by other means.

Although it’s a romance, a good share of Wicked Wager is actually a battle. A contest of wills between two very determined people. But in the end, they both discover that winning isn’t everything, at least not in the game of love.

Wicked Wager

 

When hardened gamester Marcus Revington wins Horngate Manor in a card game, he is delighted to finally own property. Even discovering he must marry the heiress of the estate doesn’t deter him. The heiress, Penny Montgomery, is happy with her life raising horses at Horngate and has no desire to wed anyone. When she learns about her guardian’s Wicked Wager, she schemes to convince Marcus she’s unsuitable as a wife so he’ll forget his plan to marry her. Who will win this battle of wits and wills? Or will they both discover the name of the game is love?

Excerpt:

He might have known she’d take hours, Marcus thought with irritation as he waited in the drawing room. Offer to take a woman somewhere, and she fussed and fiddled half the day. He’d thought Penny was more practical than that, but it appeared she was as tardy as other members of her sex. A pity if she’d already been corrupted by Madame Dubonet and lost that ingenuous charm of hers. He rather liked the grubby hoyden he’d met in the drive of Horngate. She’d been a delightful change from the coy, manipulative women of the ton.

He paced across to the window to check on the phaeton and team. Hearing a faint sound, he turned.

For a moment, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His gaze moved down Penny’s slender form, then returned to the expanse of lush creamy flesh exposed by the low neckline of her dress. He swallowed hard, then choked out, “What the devil are you wearing?”

She gave him an innocent smile. “It’s my new daydress. Do you like it?”

Gone was the sweetly pretty young miss he’d brought to London. She’d been transformed into a sensual, sophisticated, breathtaking… goddess. It wasn’t just the lush décolletage the gown revealed, but the color of the fabric. Some subtle shade of pink that made her look edible. He longed to kiss and lick and nibble every inch of the silken, creamy skin the garment exposed. And then move on to the parts concealed by the soft, shimmery fabric. The very thought made him instantly aroused.

He took a deep breath and tried to focus on Penny’s face. “The dress is very fashionable, I’m certain. But if you don’t want to catch a chill, you’d best put on your pelisse.”

Penny hurried to do as he suggested. Despite having carefully planned this moment, when it actually came time to appear before Revington in the skimpy gown, she’d experienced an attack of nerves. It had taken all her willpower to walk boldly into the drawing room, despite feeling half-naked.

Revington’s expression had turned quite strange, almost savage. But then a moment later, his normal reserve had prevailed and he’d carried on in his usual impatient style.

She put on her pelisse and started for the door. Then she remembered the other part of her plan. Turning, she said, “I wondered if rather than driving today, you could have footman take the reins and sit in the carriage with me. That way you’ll be able to tell me about the sights as we travel through the city.”

Seeing a muscle twitch in his jaw, she wondered whether he disliked the thought of spending time with her. Too bad, she thought stubbornly. For her plan to work, she needed to force him into close proximity.

 

Buy Links:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VU8L64K

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wicked-wager-mary-gillgannon/1121799505?ean=2940151266314

The Wild Rose Press:  http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6209

About Mary Gillgannon

Mary Gillgannon is the author of sixteen novels, mostly romances set in the dark age, medieval and English Regency time periods. She’s married and has two children. Now that they’re grown, she indulges her nurturing tendencies on four very spoiled cats and a moderately spoiled dog. When not writing or working—she’s been employed at the local public library for twenty-five years—she enjoys gardening, reading and travel.

Website:  http://marygillgannon.com

Blog: http://marygillgannon.blogspot.com

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MaryGillgannon

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