Victorian Marriage Proposals

 

Marriage proposal stories can definitely have fabulous descriptions – both good and bad. During the Victorian era, marriages were not arranged, though a good connection to ensure a well-to-do family’s reputation and holdings was sought after.

True love has always been a girl’s dream, sometimes escape from her present situation but the goal was always the same in the 19^th century and before – marriage and a house of their own. No one at that time would dream of growing up and living independently. Perhaps, today with the number of single parents and divorces, our views have changed.

But this is England, 1870 and for Tristan, he needs a wife; Evelyn has to find a husband that will have her, despite her fear of men and the tragedy that struck her two years ago. Tristan, a new lord, wants her for his wife but faces demons of his own. A true match made in heaven, to bring these troublesome people together.

His proposal to Evelyn 

Great & Unfortunate Desires

 

Victorian England c. 1870

 

Operating as a British spy, Tristan St.James, the new Marquis of Wrenworth, barely escapes Afghanistan with his life in the spring of 1869. He plans to seek vengeance against the traitor who exposed him and for the agent he’s forced to kill. Returning to England, as a lord, he must marry. Haunted by guilt from the horrors of war, he avoids love at all costs, but finds himself drawn to the only woman who is disinterested in him.

 

Lady Evelyn Hurstine has waited over two years for the return of her love, a man who left for war in the East. But during that time, she suffered a brutal assault, resulting in a child and fear of any man touching her except for the man she once knew. The pursuit by the marquis scares her but her excuses against his proposal dwindle.

 

Their marriage strengthens into love until she discovers her husband isn’t the safety she believed but the one who killed the man she once loved. Caught in a world of intrigue and mayhem, Tristan must prove his love to her before the traitor destroys them both.

 

EXCERPT

 

What made him say that, of all things? Fiancée? Engaged to the ice queen? Tristan noticed how pale Evelyn turned, and part of him tightened. When that fop moved away so quickly, it was obvious the man wasn’t really interested in Evelyn. But Tristan’s interest surely could have been expressed less dramatically.

 

“Tris.” Harry stood behind him. “What are you doing?” It was a low whisper.

 

Tristan forced a smile, concentrating to make it more of a devil-may-care grin. “It wasn’t to be announced just yet,” he replied, his gaze on Evelyn. She still looked a bit shocked. “Come, my sweet.” He held his hand up for her to take.

 

Her eyes still wide, but her mouth now shut, Evelyn gently laid her hand on his, like a butterfly landing on a flower, fragile as spun glass. She blinked and managed to return a timid smile as he led her away.

 

Several feet from the croquet game, she stopped, withdrawing her hand, as if he had stung her.

 

“Do you care to explain yourself, captain? Wait, no, my lord?”

 

He wanted to laugh at her attempt to guess his rank but heard the anger in her tone. Ah, so his ice queen wasn’t entirely frozen. Her anger melted that lovely aloof façade. Pity.

 

“I’ve come to a conclusion, my dear…”

 

“I am not your ‘dear’,” she snapped.

 

He snorted at her reaction. “But for all intents and purposes, you are. Now hear me out.” Tristan directed her to the oak tree near the edge of the grounds. They were in full view of everyone, so he figured she’d be calmer there than in the house. Evelyn reminded him of a skittish colt, on the verge of darting off if threatened.

 

“I need a wife. You are searching for a husband. That braggart there was too close for comfort. Therefore, I rescued you.” He chuckled. “And he won’t be bothering you again.”

 

Her gaze narrowed. Ah, the fire in her eyes lit to blazing. “Whose comfort?”

 

That question made his skin prickle, like being stabbed with a million pins. Surely she knew that fop’s “familiarity” with her was the stuff of scandal…right? Or was it really that it made Tristan uncomfortable? As if the man had tried to take what was his? And if so, when had that feeling formed?

 

“You had no right,” she continued, still fuming.

 

Oh, how he wanted to burn in her fire. “We suit each other perfectly.”

 

“I will not marry you,” she hissed.

 

His attraction to her, now his fire and ice queen, grew. As her breathing deepened in anger, he noticed her breasts swelling in the confines of the corset, barely contained. Her illusion tulle fiche was more decorative than concealing, and his cock hardened with each rise of her bosom. Blood racing through him, he struggled to maintain his composure. Despite the warning inside his head to give her sufficient space, he leaned toward her, his hand taking hers again. Evelyn hardened and tried to withdraw it, but he wouldn’t let her go.

 

To everyone else, they looked like a couple, enraptured with each other. Exactly what he wanted them to think.

 

**What is your proposal story? Did your spouse sweep you off your feet unexpectedly, like Tristan did to Evelyn, or was it heaven-sent? I’d love to hear your tale….

 

 

A USAToday Bestselling author, Gina Danna was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and has spent the better part of her life reading. History has always been her love and she spent numerous hours devouring historical romance stories, always dreaming of writing one of her own. After years of writing historical academic papers to achieve her undergraduate and graduate degrees in History, and then for museum programs and exhibits, she has found the time to write her own historical romantic fiction novels.

Now, under the supervision of her three dogs and two cats, she writes amid a library of research books, with her only true break away is to spend time with her other life long dream —her Arabian horse—With him, her muse can play.

 

Website:  www.ginadanna.com

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Twitter:  @GinaDanna1

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7141882.Gina_Danna

 

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