What Was the Proper Name for a “Deck” Jutting Out Over the Water During the Regency? + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel”

Posted on October 26, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

When writing a story, I tend to mark all words that I do not think was used in Regency England. I label them with the word “origin” so I can remember to look them up when I begin to type the tale, and, in that matter, I do not lose my “train of thought.” In my tale, the main characters do not spend leisurely time on the lake. It is something more sinister.

So what is the proper name for a “deck” stretching out over the banks of a lake or pond? In Regency England, a wooden structure or deck jutting out over a lake would primarily be called a jetty or a landing-stage. If it was intended to serve as a scenic viewing platform rather than purely for boat mooring, it might also be casually referred to as a prospect, a viewing platform, or a water pavilion. [Accurate British English term for an oblong deck from shore out into a lake where you tie your rowing boat]

Here is a breakdown of the terms depending on the structure’s purpose:

Jetty: The most common term for a wooden, bridge-like walkway extending over the water used for fishing, relaxing, or mooring.

Landing-stage: A specific type of platform designed to rise and fall with the water level to easily embark or disembark from rowboats, punts, or skiffs.

Prospect: An architectural or landscape term used frequently during the Regency era for an elevated or extended spot offering a prime, unobstructed view of the estate’s features (such as an artificial lake).

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Origin of the Phrase “Ins and Outs” + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel,” Arriving 18 November 2026

Posted on October 23, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

The phrase “ins and outs” dates back to the mid-17th century. It originally alluded to the twisting and turning paths of a winding road, before evolving to describe politicians who are either holding office (in) or out of power. [Dictionary.com]

Over time, these concepts naturally merged to describe the intricate details, complexities, and full workings of a process or subject. [Longman]

What is the origin of the idiom “the ins and outs of something” and when to use it?

The idiom “the ins and outs of something” refers to a comprehensive understanding of a particular subject, including all its details, complexities, and nuances. The origin of this phrase is derived from the idea that “ins” represent the inner or intricate aspects, while “outs” pertain to the outer or surface aspects of a subject or situation. Together, it signifies a thorough knowledge of a topic, situation, or process. This phrase is used to convey that someone possesses a deep and comprehensive understanding of a subject or can navigate through complex situations with ease, having explored all facets of it. https://dictionary.langeek.co/en/word/214128?entry=ins%20and%20outs

Excerpt from Chapter Thirteen:

You are not yet of age,” he declared. “You were born in England to English parents. Such makes you an English citizen, who has been living abroad,” he reasoned as he cracked the door a bit wider so she might view him and his obvious determination. “As such, with your father’s passing, you became the ward of either the Kirkland earldom or the Summerville baronetcy. I have drafted a letter to Sir Jasper to inform him of my plan to bring your mother and your brother to England and ask for his and Lady Anna’s support in returning our joint family to English shores. As Grayson is to inherit the Kirkland earldom, I believe he should stay at my home estate. At his age, he should learn the ins and outs of the estate, as well as his responsibility to the earldom.”

“In truth, Grandfather, I doubt Grayson has considered all you mentioned. Despite his age, he still heavily depends on mother’s opinions. If she chose to return to her parents’ home, I would expect Grayson would follow.” 

Her grandfather did not speak for several minutes. “You will stay in Derbyshire, will you not, Christiana? I have so many things I wish to show you.” 

“I can think of no place I would rather be, Grandfather, but, if this plan by Lord Liverpool proves faulty, I would rather be in a different part of England, to assure both my well being and yours. If the marriage contract is ruled as null, Lord Whitmorris will come for me again and, the next time, I could end up in the same condition as his lordship’s man of business.  I shan’t place you or the others in danger. Lord Whitmorris is not one to forgive and forget.” 

“Then we see that Lord Whitmorris does not know success. When the Lowerys called on me and found me in despair, I made myself a promise not to permit Whitmorris to win. You were my hope. You were in England, and I finally had an opportunity to look upon you again. As I dressed for our reunion, I stopped to speak to your grandmother’s portrait to tell her what I planned. I told Christine that I . . .” 

“Christine?” She asked. “I did not realize father’s mother was a Christine. Surely he must have said so when I was young, but I cannot recall his doing so. Was I named for her?” 

Her grandfather’s voice sounded as if it was watery with his tears. “You were.” 

“Why did no one tell me? I have lost—my family has lost—so much of our history.” 

His lordship cleared his voice. “Your parents insisted on naming you after both your grandmothers. You are ‘Christiana’ after my wife ‘Christine’ and Sir Jasper’s ‘Lady Anna.’ We all agreed that as the first born you should have the name of both your grandmothers. It was hoped there would be multiple sons to carry the other names. Yours, as the first born, tied us together forever. Unfortunately, after the death of Mr. Greenville, the Pavlicks feared the wrath of others in society, especially after the accusations against your father became known. They claimed their distance from me and from the earldom. It would have been my son’s wish for both them and me to know a clearing of his name.” 

“My wish also,” Christiana whispered through her own tears. “I want a full and loud family—no more hiding in shame. “ 

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Did Men’s Trousers in the Regency Era Have a Waistband? + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel,” Arriving 18 November 2026

Posted on October 21, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

I know this is probably a crazy idea for a post, but before I wrote the scene I needed to know if men’s trousers in the Regency era had a waistband. So here goes…

Yes, men’s trousers in 1813 did have a waistband. According to the Victoria and Albert Museum site, “When trousers became fashionable in the first decade of the 19th century, they retained wide fall-front closure commonly used in the late 18th century. This began to narrow in the 1820s, and by the 1830s a fly-front closure, as seen in this example, became the most usual form. Buttons on the waistband allow the attachment of braces. Linen and cotton in pale colours were a popular choice for summer wear. These trousers are reputed to have been worn by William Pierson Johnes, a linen merchant of New York City.

Trousers, circa 1805-1815, silk, cotton, linen, leather, bone, Maryland Historical Society, Gift of Misses Frances and Jean H. Gilmore, 1954.60.3.

“These trousers are likely from the first quarter of the nineteenth century. They are made of cream silk fabric with bone buttons and leather straps that button to the pant leg as stirrups. They are neither the most tightly fitted nor the fullest pant leg seen in the period, but somewhere in the middle. The fabric has a sturdiness that we don’t associate with silk clothes today and the soil on the stirrups shows these were definitely worn. They are entirely hand stitched and there are several places where the fabric has been pieced. In a time when fabric could be very expensive, these small extensions that maximized fabric were common and not looked at as patching.” [Inside Mr. Darcy’s Drawers]

However, they were constructed very differently from modern pants:

The Fall Front: Instead of a zipper fly, trousers in 1813 used a “fall front” (a wide, rectangular flap over the crotch) that buttoned securely to the top of the waistband. [“Who Wears the Pants?”]

High-Waisted: The waistband was worn very high—often reaching up to the wearer’s navel. [Regency Men’s Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers]

Held Up by Braces: Because belts were not worn with this style of clothing, the waistbands featured buttons designed specifically to attach to suspenders (known as braces). [Kirsten Koster]

Cossack Trousers: A highly popular variation introduced around this time was the “Cossack” trouser, which featured voluminous fabric pleated directly into the waistband and gathered at the ankles. [Fashion History Timeline: 1810 – 1819]

You can read more about period-accurate menswear tailoring and see extant examples in the Victoria and Albert Museum Collection.

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Traitor Tuesday ~ Celebrating 250 Years of the United States as a Separate Nation: Francis Lightfoot Lee, Part of Virginia’s Lee Family Dynasty and Signer of the Declaration of Independence

Posted on October 20, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

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Francis Lightfoot Lee was a 41 years old planation owner when he signed the Declaration of Independence. Though married, we do not know of any children. He was 62 years of age when he passed on 11 January 1797.

Francis Lightfoot Lee (brother of Richard Henry Lee) was born on the fourteenth of October, 1734, at Stratford Hall plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia.He was the fourth surviving son of Thomas Lee and Hannah Harrison Ludwell Lee. After Lee’s parents died in 1750, he was left under the guardianship of his oldest brother, Philip Ludwell Lee. Philip Lee decided that Francis Lee was best suited for the life of a farmer and ended his formal education. Consequently, Lee was not educated in England, as his older brothers had been; his schooling never progressed beyond that acquired under the tutelage of a Reverend Craig, who lived at Stratford Hall in the mid-1740s. He was educated  in the manner of an enlightened country gentleman.

leeThe relationship between Lee and his oldest brother steadily worsened over the next few years. In 1754 Lee and his siblings brought suit against Philip Lee for not immediately dividing Thomas Lee’s estate according to his will. The lawsuit failed—Philip Lee had wanted to settle his father’s debts before dividing up his property—but Francis Lee and his younger siblings did successfully petition the court to have their cousin Henry Lee appointed as their guardian. When the familial discord threatened to undermine the Lees’ social and political position in colonial Virginia, Francis Lee set aside his differences with his oldest brother and focused on restoring the family’s rank in the colony. Although Lee’s relationship with his oldest brother remained strained, he developed a close bond with his other siblings, brothers Thomas Ludwell Lee, Richard Henry Lee, William Lee, and Arthur Lee, and sisters Hannah Lee and Alice Lee. When Philip Lee finally gave Frank Lee the land he had inherited in far-off Loudoun County, he eagerly took up residence there and was soon called to public service.

In July 1758, after Lee had established his residency in Loudoun County, he won election to the House of Burgesses. Lee joined his brothers Thomas Lee and Richard Henry Lee and his cousins Richard “Squire” Lee and Henry Lee to create a powerful voting bloc in the House. Lee himself, however, initiated little or no legislation other than items that specifically concerned his constituents—for example, he helped draft a bill that allowed Loudoun County residents to pay their taxes in money or commodities. He served, along with his brothers, on the Committee of Propositions and Grievances, and in 1766 was appointed to the Committee of Privileges and Elections. The most significant political development during Lee’s service as Loudoun County representative was the Stamp Act crisis of 1765 and 1766, during which he maintained an inconspicuous role other than to join the Westmoreland Association, formed to protest the act, and sign the Westmoreland Resolves, which outlined the association’s major arguments against the Stamp Act. Lee continued to represent Loudoun County until 1768.

8897393_orig.pngIn 1769, Lee married Rebecca Tayloe, the sixteen-year-old daughter of John Tayloe, of Mount Airy. Frank was in his thirties at the time. Rebecca Tayloe was one of the eight daughters of John Tayloe II. In providing his blessing, Rebecca’s father made a wedding gift to the couple of a plantation of 1,000 acres. Frank and Rebecca moved to Richmond County. He soon began overseeing the construction of a new residence, Menokin. That same year, residents of Richmond County elected him to the Virginia House of Burgesses; once again, he maintained an inactive role and attended sessions sporadically. He also served the county as a justice of the peace from 1770 until the collapse of Virginia’s colonial government in 1774, and, for a brief time in 1771, was justice of the peace for both Richmond and Loudoun counties.

The union with Rebecca was a marriage of love, and the letters they exchanged while Frank served in the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg reveal how much the separation cost them. He served reluctantly at first, preferring to spend time with his new wife and the building of their home, a Georgian mansion, Menokin. But as the Revolution neared, Frank cast his lot with the Virginia patriots.

francis-lee-sig.pngHe became a close associate of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, though he preferred library discussions and back-room strategy to the limelight of public debate. Frank’s contributions to the formation of the American Republic, though subtle and often overlooked, were nonetheless critical. His staid countenance offered stability to the sometimes fractious debate among the delegates and, importantly, he modulated the fiery and sometimes divisive speech of his brother, Richard Henry. “He was,” as his youngest brother Arthur attested, “calmness and philosophy itself.”

Lee left Virginia for Philadelphia in 1775, after accepting an appointment to serve in the Second Continental Congress. There, he and Rebecca Tayloe Lee lived for a brief time with his sister Alice Lee Shippen and her husband, Dr. William Shippen, before leasing a house. As a member of Congress, Lee continued to watch with increasing concern the activities of Virginia’s Royal Governor, John Murray, Earl of Dunmore. When Lord Dunmore placed the colony under martial law and offered slaves and indentured servants their freedom in exchange for service to King George III,  Lee moved more decisively in favor of declaring independence from Britain. As his first term in Congress came to a close, delegates to theVirginia Convention appointed Lee to a second one-year term in Congress, which he accepted in June 1776.

Frank Lee was a noted radical, on the side of Patrick Henry in opposing the Stamp Act. He Joined the group who called for a general congress and a Virginia Convention in 1774. He attended that convention and that year was sent to the First Continental Congress. He represented his state there until 1779, working on numerous committees.

Francis remained a member of Congress until 1779. He was also a member of the Virginia committee that framed the Articles of Confederation. He retired from the Congress in the spring of 1779 and returned to his home and enjoy his family. However, his fellow citizens again elected him to public office, this time to the Virginia Senate. When he retired for good, he spent his time in agricultural pursuits. He died of pleurisy at age 63. His wife also died of pleurisy within a week of Francis’s death. lee-grave-marker.jpg

Resources:

Cause of Liberty Blogspot 

Encyclopedia Virginia 

Find a Grave

Geni.com

Stratford Hall

U. S. History

Wikipedia 

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Cattails, Great Reedmace, Bulrush – What are the Differences? + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel,” Arriving 18 November 2026

Posted on October 19, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

In the story, Darcy’s men find a body floating in a lake on Pemberley estate. The men must determine WHO the man is? What happened to him? When it happened? Where? How? and Why? When I was writing the scene, my first thought was there were cattails in the water, but was I in error or not? Let us find out.

It turns out I was correct, but still wrong. Yes, one would commonly find cattails in a lake or pond in Derbyshire, England. However, in the UK, they are not referred to as cattails; instead, they are generally known as reedmace or bulrush.

You can find the common reedmace (Typha latifolia) growing in the shallow, muddy edges of still waters, including reservoirs, lakes, and nature reserves throughout the county.




Both cattails and bulrushes are marsh-dwelling wetland plants, but they belong to entirely different botanical families. The easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at their flower heads: cattails feature a distinct, dense “hot dog” shaped cylinder, while bulrushes have spiky, star-shaped or globe-like clusters.
A side-by-side comparison highlights the key differences:


1. Flower Heads
Cattail (Typha): Distinct, fuzzy, cylindrical brown flower spikes that resemble a hot dog on a stick. In the fall, they explode into fluffy, cotton-like seeds.
Bulrush (Scirpus): Produces small, spiky, star-shaped or round clusters of florets. They do not form thick, brown sausages.


2. Leaves & Stems
Cattail: Flat, wide, and elongated leaves that grow primarily from the base of the plant.
Bulrush: The leaves can look much more grass-like, and some bulrush species have triangular or rounded stems rather than flat, sword-like leaves.


3. Height & Location
Cattail: Can grow up to 8–10 feet tall and typically thrives in very shallow, muddy waters along the edges of ponds and marshes.
Bulrush: Varies widely in height (often 3 to 6 feet) and tends to tolerate growing in slightly deeper water than cattails.


4. Naming Confusion
Regional Naming: The confusion is often geographical. In North America, the brown “hot dog” plant is called a cattail, while in the UK and Australia, people colloquially refer to the exact same plant (the cattail) as a bulrush.

If you are looking to spot them in person, you can easily find dense stands of them at local spots such as:

Kirk Hallam Lake & Meadows in Ilkeston (about 6 miles northeast of Derby)

Carr Vale Nature Reserve near Chesterfield

Tansley Pond near Matlock

Shallow edges of larger bodies of water like Carsington Water

These plants thrive in shallow water and serve as excellent habitats for local wildlife and wetland birds.

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Chemicals Used for Fertilizers in the Regency + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel,” Arriving 18 November 2026

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

On Monday, we had a brief discussion on the use of the four-crop rotation in England, a movement that changed England forever and brought it greater success around the world.

During the Regency era (roughly 1811–1820), “chemical” or artificial fertilizers had not yet been invented. Instead, farmers relied on naturally occurring minerals and organic materials. To enrich their fields, farmers applied exact raw materials like wood ash (for potassium), marl/ground limestone (for calcium), gypsum (for sulfur), and night soil or guano (for nitrogen).

If you would like to know more about the History of Fertilizers, I would recommend this information from Argus.

There is also a Historical Overview of Fertilizer Use.

Rock Ledge Gardens gives us “From Organic to Synthetic and Back Again: The History of Fertilizer Use.“

Because synthetic, nitrogen-based fertilizers were not created until the early 20th century, the chemical soil amendments of the Regency period were primarily basic salts and organic matter. They used …

Wood Ash: Rich in soluble potash (potassium carbonate), used by farmers to improve soil alkalinity and provide essential potassium for crops.

Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate): Popularized in the late 18th century, this provided critical sulfur to the soil and helped improve soil structure for legumes and grasses.

Marl: A mixture of clays and calcium carbonate, widely used to neutralize acidic soils and provide a slow-release source of calcium.

Saltpeter (Potassium Nitrate): Used experimentally by wealthy agricultural reformers who were beginning to study agricultural chemistry, though it was generally too expensive for widespread use.

Organic Composts: The bulk of “fertilization” relied on farmyard manure (livestock dung and urine), crushed animal bones, dried fish, and seaweed in coastal areas to replenish nitrogen and phosphorus.

Posted in book release, British history, commerce, customs and tradiitons, Georgian Era, Great Britain, hero, heroines, historical fiction, Industrial Revolution, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, reading, Regency era, Regency romance, research, science, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Four-Crop Rotation System, a Major Step Forward for the Regency Era + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel,” Arriving 18 November 2026

Posted on October 14, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

One of the major plot points in “Lady Christiana and the Colonel” is Mr. Darcy’s use of a Four-Crop Rotation of his fields. I have used this point in previous Austen variations, having Darcy learning the system from his Scottish cousins. In this book, Lord Whitmorris has a government contract to send food, etc., to the British forces on the Continent, who are fighting Napoleon’s armies, but all involved, including the British Prime Minister, Lord Liverpool, learn Whitmorris is a double agent and is assisting the French more than the British. This all comes to a “different” climax than what I assume many will expect.

During the Regency era (1811–1820), the Norfolk four-course system was the most vital agricultural innovation in Britain. It completely replaced the inefficient medieval three-field system by eliminating the need to leave land fallow. Instead, farmers continuously rotated four specific crops on a four-year cycle to naturally restore soil nutrients and maximize land utility.

Nowadays, it is common practice to use this type of rotation. I live in a rural county of North Carolina, row crop farmers predominantly utilize a Corn → Wheat → Soybean sequence. The most common approach is a 3-crop, 2-year cycle where soft red winter wheat is planted in the fall and harvested in early summer, immediately followed by “double-cropped” soybeans. There are some who use a Corn-Soybean Rotation: The classic two-year cycle. Rotating soybeans after corn dramatically helps manage pests (like the soybean cyst nematode) and breaks up disease cycles. Those in the northern part of the state who plant tobacco, generally, rotated with non-host crops like corn, cotton, or small grains to suppress black shank and root-knot nematodes.

The strict, scientifically designed sequence of crops for those grown during the Regency included:

Year 1: Wheat. This was the primary cash crop, sold at market to make bread.

Year 2: Turnips. A crucial fodder crop. Turnips were planted in rows and hoed, which helped clear the land of weeds. They were used to feed and fatten livestock during the winter months.

Year 3: Barley. Another profitable cash crop, which was largely sold to breweries to make ale.

Year 4: Clover or Ryegrass. These were usually planted alongside the barley in Year 3 and left to grow through Year 4. They were used to graze livestock or cut for hay. Crucially, legumes like clover fix nitrogen into the earth, which heavily fertilized the soil for the wheat in Year 1.

This system was a core pillar of the British Agricultural Revolution. It benefited Regency society in multiple ways:

Year-Round Livestock: By harvesting turnips and clover, farmers could feed their sheep and cattle through the winter. This meant farmers no longer had to slaughter their herds in the autumn just to save on feed.

Abundant Manure: Because animals were well-fed all year, farmers produced massive amounts of high-quality fertilizer, which drastically increased subsequent crop yields.

  • Economic Boom: The surplus of grains and fodder provided a reliable income for large landowners and helped sustain Britain’s rapidly growing population and industrial expansion.
Posted in book release, books, British history, commerce, finance, food, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, historical fiction, history, Industrial Revolution, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading, real life tales, Regency romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Traitor Tuesday ~ Celebrating 250 Years of the United States as a Separate Nation: Francis Hopkinson, Designer of the U. S. Flag and Signer of the Declaration of Independence

Posted on October 13, 2026 by Regina Jeffers
 
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Song of America 

Francis Hopkinson was born to an elite, well-off family. He graduated in the first class of the College of Philadelphia (which later became the University of Pennsylvania) in 1757.Soon after earning his A.B. in 1757, Hopkinson published a number of verses criticizing the work of John Beveridge, a former professor, titled, “Errata or the Art of Printing Incorrectly,” and “The Grammarians: or Scoto and the Doctor, a new Ballad.” Later, he apprenticed under Benjamin Chew, who later was Chief Justice of Pennsylvania. Hopkinson set up his own practice in 1761. Hopkinson then spent two years studying under his mother’s relative, the Bishop of Worcester, in London, before returning to the colonies with a lucrative royal appointment as the collector of customs for Salem, New Jersey, in 1763. He added New Castle, Delaware, to his responsibilities in 1772. In 1774, Hopkinson’s revolutionary sentiments caused him to resign his post and return to private legal practice in Bordentown, New Jersey. A talented musician, Hopkinson composed many pieces over his lifetime, including “My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free” (1759)—the earliest surviving non-religious song composed in the American colonies.In 1774, he was appointed to the governor’s council in New Jersey. However, Hopkinson would soon join those who supported American independence. As the American Revolution raged, Hopkinson returned to serve in the colony of his birth in 1777, first on the Navy Board at Philadelphia, then as treasurer of the Continental Loan Office in 1778 and finally with a seat on the Admiralty court in Pennsylvania in 1779. He joined Pennsylvania’s ratification convention in 1787, and served on the bench of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 1789 until his death.


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Hopkinson represented New Jersey at the Continental Congress in 1776, and was one of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence. During the Revolutionary War, he served on the Navy Board at Philadelphia, as treasurer of the Continental Loan Office and as a judge for the Admiralty Court of Pennsylvania. Hopkinson also demonstrated his support for independence with songs like “The Battle of the Kegs,” a popular Revolutionary War ballad that mocked the panicked British reaction when powder-filled barrels floated by their ships on the Delaware River, and “A Pretty Story,” which is a skeptical examination of the relationship between Great Britain and the coloniesAfter the fight for independence had been won, a Constitutional Convention was held in 1787 in order to create a stronger governing document for the new country. Some opposed a more powerful central government, but Hopkinson actively supported the new Constitution and argued in favor of the its ratification. He also wrote “The New Roof,” an allegory that detailed why a new government (roof) was needed to protect its citizens. In the end, the new Constitution was adopted.

hopkinsonThough evidence shows that Hopkinson worked on the design of the U.S. flag, Congress turned down his request for “a quarter cask of the public wine” as payment for its creation. There is no definitive answer about who was responsible for the placement and style of the flag’s stars, but Hopkinson’s other design work, which includes contributing to the design of the Great Seal of the United States, lends credence to his bid for credit.

In 1789, George Washington nominated Hopkinson as a U.S. district judge for eastern Pennsylvania—a position that Hopkinson would hold until his death on May 9, 1791, at the age of 53. He died very suddenly of a massive epileptic seizure. He left behind a widow and five children.

Hopkinson’s lifetime output included inventions, musical compositions and writing that ranged from satire to serious essays. Most importantly, having signed the Declaration of Independence, worked on the U.S. flag and supported ratification of the Constitution, his contributions to the United States live on to this day.

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According to Signing Their Lives Away (Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnest, 2009, Quirk Books, pp. 89-91), “No sketches of Hopkinson’s flag design exist, but we do have the original description, which called for thirteen red and white alternating stripes and thirteen white stars on a field of blue. In Hopkinson’s original design, the stars were six-pointed and arranged in row.

“The staggered arrangement of stars proved to be somewhat controversial. Look closely at the stars, and you’ll see that they easily form crosses and diagonals. To the eyes of early Americans, this was comfortably similar to the design of Great Britain’s flag. 

imgres   kings_colors.gif

“So the stars on Hopkinson’s flag were configured into a circle, which banished the similarity to the British flag and also suggested that no one colony or state was greater than an of the others. Of course, this version looks remarkably similar to the one supposedly sewn by Betsy Ross.” 

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Resources: 
Biography 
On This Day 
University of Pennsylvania Archives and Record Center
U.S. Flag
U. S. History 

Posted in American History, British history, Declaration of Independence | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Proving Oneself the New Heir

Posted on October 12, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

I had a recent question from a reader/writer about how after the death of the current peer was one made the new peer. Was it immediate? Is there a process or some sort of hearing. What must he prove to be the new peer?

This particular writer was asking about a nephew assuming the new peerage, as the peer had no male heirs, but the nephew being the son of the peer’s brother.

In such cases, there is very little delay or a contest. The  son of the second brother is immediately the peer, but he would generally wait until after the funeral to assume the title publicly. It is when a title can be inherited by a female and there are no direct descendants. like a daughter or granddaughter that contests arise.  Delays  might also occur if the widow is pregnant or if there is doubt about the young man’s legitimacy.

For example, let us have a look at Lord Byron. “George Gordon Noel Byron was born, with a clubbed right foot, in London on January 22, 1788. He was the son of Catherine Gordon of Gight, an impoverished Scots heiress, and Captain John (“Mad Jack”) Byron, a fortune-hunting widower with a daughter, Augusta. The profligate captain squandered his wife’s inheritance, was absent for the birth of his only son, and eventually decamped for France as an exile from English creditors, where he died in 1791 at 36.

“With the death in 1798 of his great-uncle, the “Wicked” fifth Lord Byron, George became the sixth Baron Byron of Rochdale, heir to Newstead Abbey, the family seat in Nottinghamshire. He enjoyed the role of landed nobleman, proud of his coat of arms with its mermaid and chestnut horses surmounting the motto “Crede Byron” (“Trust Byron”).” [Poetry Foundation]

Lord Byron’s guardian, Lord Carlisle was ill when Byron turned 21. As mentioned above, Byron inherited at age ten from a great uncle. He thought he was being singled out to prove that his father and his mother were married before he was born, that his father was legitimate, and that his father was the son of a previous deceased baron, that the baron’s sons were all dead without legitimate male issue, and that any contenders were the sons of a son junior to John Byron. Byron gathered all the needed information– he had been the peer for 11 years by then, presented it and was accepted. He castigated Carlisle in one of his poems, but his half sister, Augusta, took him to task for this by letting him know that Carlisle had been ill. Not that the earl did much for the boy. Hanson the solicitor of Chancery handled the practical aspects of the guardianship, but either did not know enough to tell Byron that it was standard operating procedure or just forgot to.

The Hereditary Peer Association explains the official process of claiming a title. Here is the relevant portion of the reply:

The position up to the end of 1999 and the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999, was that on the death of any hereditary peer, his heir would have to prove to the Clerk of the Parliaments his right of succession by appropriate birth marriage and death certificates, and in some cases, affidavits to prove for example, that there was no better claimant. I think other evidence such as parish records can be used as often heirs outside the direct line have to search back many generations to prove their lineage and rights.

Having satisfied the Clerk, the new peer would receive a Writ of Summons to attend the House. The procedure for taking his seat was simply that he would alert the Clerk on the day he wished to take his seat before the start of the day’s business. At the opening of the day’s business, he would take a seat usually on the Bishops’ benches and after the opening prayers, the Clerk would call him to the despatch box where he would take the Oath of Allegiance, walk to the wool sack and shake the hand of the Lord Chancellor or his deputy if the latter was not present. He would then leave the Chamber to be greeted by representatives of the political parties in the Lobby. He would then declare his party allegiance if any and proceed to take a seat on the appropriate benches.

There was no more ceremony than that. Only newly created peers (now days exclusively Life Peers) endured, and still do, an introductory ceremony at which they and their two supporters, wear parliamentary robes over their ordinary suits, and carry Coked Hats which they doff the Lord Chancellor (now Speaker) and to the throne. They also take the Oath and shake hands with the Lord Chancellor or Speaker.

This latter ceremony has recently been simplified but has it origins some centuries ago. Sadly few peers have their own robes, either parliamentary or Coronation and mostly hire them from Ede & Ravenscroft. Coronets are only worn at a Coronation and as you note, only following the actual crowning of the new Monarch. I am fairly certain that a peer had to have received a Writ, sworn allegiance and taken his seat in the House of Lords in order to attend a Coronation. Sadly, there was no ceremony involved in inheriting a peerage, other than a consultation with a parliamentary tailor such as E&R.

According to Titles and Forms of Addresses: A Guide to Correct Usage, in the case of any inheritance it is customary for the new peer to be known as their previous style until after the funeral of the late peer. For instance, Mr. John Doe, the nephew of the Duke of Soandso, inherits, but continues to go by Mr. John Doe until after the funeral; this is the same for a direct heir as well. Also, while the heir takes on the title automatically upon confirmation of his claim, his siblings only gain their honorifics by favour of the Crown. So Mr. John Doe’s brothers and sisters would not be permitted to add “Lord” or “Lady” to his or her name until they apply for them and have it granted. The widow of the new peer’s father, however, is not entitled to a change in title because that honour only comes through the husband, who is dead. So Mr. John Doe’s mother does not become the (Dowager) Duchess of Soandso and is not entitled to apply for the favour from the Crown; she remains Mrs. Doe.

Sources:

Hereditary Peers

Hereditary Peers Removed

House of Lords Act 1999

The Last of the Hereditary Peers in the House of Lords

At the bend of the path, an unexpected meeting.
She is all May. He is December.
But loves knows not time.

Colonel Lord Andrew Whitmire has returned to England after spending fifteen years in service to his country. In truth, he would prefer to be anywhere but home. Before he departed England, his late wife, from an arranged marriage, had cuckolded him in a scandal that had set Society’s tongues wagging. His daughter, Matilda, who was reared by his father, enjoys calling him “Father” in the most annoying ways. Unfortunately, his future is the viscountcy, and Andrew knows his duty to both the title and his child. He imagines himself the last of his line until he encounters Miss Verity Coopersmith, the niece of his dearest friend, the man who had saved Andrew’s life at Waterloo. Miss Coopersmith sets Whitmire’s world spinning out of control. She is truly everything he did not know he required in his life. However, she is twenty-two years his junior, young enough to be his daughter, but all he can think is she is absolute perfection.

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Enjoy this scene from Chapter 5 of my Courting Lord Whitmire, where his lordship claims his peerage before the House of Lords. We view it through the heroine’s eyes.

When they learned at Lady Stephenson’s gathering that the Countess of Savidge had taken a fall earlier in the day and had cancelled her entertainment, Verity had convinced Matilda that they should return to Parliament and plead to be admitted to the gallery to view Lord Whitmire’s introduction to the House of Lords. 

“What if they turn us away?” Matilda had protested, the girl’s earlier bravado fading quickly before the pudding was set. 

“Then we will discover a tea room nearby and wait,” Verity had said without the exasperation she felt. All afternoon, Matilda had bemoaned not being able to join Robinson in the gallery, but now that Verity had suggested their doing so, Matilda wished Verity to beg or to insist, so the girl would not bear any of the blame, if Lord Whitmire disapproved. It was Matilda’s wish not to upset the delicate balance the girl and Lord Whitmire had achieved, but, on this particular day, Verity had no time, or desire, to coddle the child. “Do you not wish to view your father’s elevation?”

“Most assuredly, I would wish to observe the proceedings,” Matilda said softly. Her gaze remained steady, although her tone held unrelenting curiosity. “But I have heard it said only those women who hold exalted positions dare enter the gallery. Father may not be happy with our presence.” 

“Miss Ridenour again?” Verity questioned. She should have known the chit would say something to discourage Matilda from her desire to sit with Robinson in the gallery. 

She did not wait for the girl’s response; instead, Verity decided for them. She had considered Lord Whitmire’s possible disapproval before she had made her suggestion, but she refused to think of his lordship’s disdain when she had the opportunity to look upon him again, especially in such a life-defining moment. Not being a part of this event, even if it were from a distance, was not a choice she could consider. Although he did not recognize her total devotion to him, she wished to share the experience—wished to have the memory to cherish in her old age. Unfortunately for her badly bruised heart, her fascination with the man had not waned; rather, it had intensified the longer she remained in his company. “We shall ask, and, if refused, accept the tradition in which the ceremony is imbued.” 

And so, with heavy reprimands delivered toward them by a clerk for even asking for permission to enter the gallery, along with a generous donation to the man’s purse, she and Matilda had been hidden behind a heavy drape, where they might peer down upon the floor of the House of Lords. After what felt like forever, the House was called to order by the Lord Chancellor. A prayer followed, and Verity’s anticipation rose. She tugged Matilda closer, placing the girl before her, so they could share the small space. 

She explained in Matilda’s ear. “Black Rod, an officer of the Order of the Garter, has already escorted Lord Whitmire and your father’s retinue to the King of Arms, who will lead the trio into the main chamber. Just wait a minute, and they will appear where we can see them.” True to her narration, his lordship and the others appeared, but, for Verity, the thrill was in watching Andrew Whitmire. Looking upon him, she had never known a prouder moment. His countenance remained stern and respectful of the majesty of the ceremony, while also holding a hint of contentment. He was a man meant for the aristocracy—noble and strong. 

“Who is with Father?” Matilda asked softly, destroying the moment for Verity. 

Swallowing the sigh of exasperation rushing to her lips, Verity leaned closer to whisper once again. “According to tradition, his lordship must be escorted by two of his fellow viscounts. When Robinson goes through the ceremony, my brother will be accompanied by two barons. Lord Whitmire asked two of his former soldiers to serve him. Black Rod leads, followed by the Garter King. The peer in front of your father is the junior peer, Lord Franklin. The one behind Whitmire is Lord Lexford.” 

“How did you learn all this?” Matilda asked with what sounded to be a nervous giggle. 

Verity smiled easily, enjoying her confession before she spoke it. “I have the habit of overhearing what I should not. I listened as your father explained the process to Robinson.” Her smile grew. “Some day you will learn that men often think women have no brains to understand of what they speak. They sometimes treat the women in their lives as if they were a silent servant.” 

“They enjoy strutting their colors as much as would an actor upon a stage,” Matilda observed in hushed tones. Verity realized the girl meant the goings on in the Lords, but Matilda’s words fit many situations where men gathered.

“Or as much as a diamond of the first water in a ballroom,” Verity said with another smile. She pointed over Matilda’s shoulder to the area below. “Notice each peer wears a robe designed to indicate his rank. Also notice that the Garter King of Arms carries a silver gilt scepter in his right hand. In his left is the patent of creation for your father.” 

Matilda rose up on her toes and whispered, “Thank you for arranging this. I shall never forget your kindness. I did not think I would enjoy the spectacle of all this, but it is quite remarkable, is it not?” 

“Very remarkable, and it is my pleasure to share this with you,” Verity replied in all seriousness. 

She wished she could resist the pull and the push that always rested between her and Lord Whitmire. She was both perplexed and fascinated by the man. Her heart knew the deepest compassion when his long-time suffering, at no fault of his own, mind you, marked the lines about his mouth and his eyes. The manner of the conversations in which he partook displayed his quick wit and keen intellect. He was accustomed to giving orders and having them obeyed, but he was also one of the most reasonable men she had ever encountered. His lordship had a firm, stubborn nature, and Verity imagined they would have a regular stream of quarrels, followed by a round of passion, the type she had only read of in Minerva novels. She suspected he held the ability to sweep her off her feet, both, figuratively, and, literally, but he kept his desires rigidly under control. She both admired and despised him at the same time.

Carrying their cocked black hats in their left hands, the lords in the procession below reached the Bar of the House. Lord Whitmire carried his Writ of Summons in his right hand. They walked up the temporal side of the House. They bowed first to where the Sovereign would sit, if present, then to the table where the clerks sat, followed by a third bow to the Judges. 

“What now?” Matilda asked. Her excitement showed upon the girl’s face. 

“Your father will next approach the Lord Chancellor.” Verity waited, holding her breath until the Lord Chancellor raised his hat to acknowledge Lord Whitmire. “His lordship will kneel on one knee and present the letters patent of his creation to the Lord Chancellor. Once the Lord Chancellor accepts the patent on behalf of the King, he will hand it to the Reading Clerk to be read aloud to all the peers present.” 

Along with Matilda, Verity held her breath as she listened to the formalities and to his lordship’s resonant, distinct voice. Then, the oddest thought caught her by surprise: She did not simply admire Lord Andrew Whitmire; she loved him. She could not remove her eyes from where the man stood, tall and proud, even when she felt Matilda shift before her. She could no more control the sense of longing in her chest than she could stop the world from spinning on its axis. The air, what there was to be had in their hiding place, thickened. Her breathing grew short. 

“Verity?” Matilda’s voice held the girl’s concern. “Are you unwell? You are so pale. We should leave.” 

Verity quickly shook off the idea. “In a moment,” she assured. “The ceremony nears its conclusion.” She returned her attention to what she could view of the proceedings. When the Reading Clerk finished reading the Summons, Lord Whitmire read the Oath of Allegiance. His full-bodied orotund voice carried to the rafters. “Now your father will sign the Test Rolls.” 

As his lordship bent over the document to add his signature to a list that went back one hundred twenty-five years, Verity caught Matilda’s hand. “Now we may depart. The ceremony is essentially over. Next, your father will change out of the ceremonial constraints and assume his seat in the Lords. Therefore, we should leave before we are seen. We promised the clerk not to be a distraction.” She led the girl through a door and down a set of stairs the clerk had said were rarely used. “I think we should have his lordship’s carriage take us to Whitmire House. Then the driver can return for Lord Whitmire and Robinson. We have no idea how long your father and my brother must tarry before they can leave without being thought poorly of. We might discover ourselves dining alone this evening.” 

The door at the bottom of the stairs led to the outside and fresh air. Stepping into a small bricked circle, Verity inhaled deeply. She needed to clear her thinking. What was she to do? Without realizing it, she had given her heart to a man who would never love her. 

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Thomas Jefferson’s Influence on “Mr. Darcy and the Designing Woman”

Posted on October 9, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

Thomas Jefferson is best known for writing the Declaration of Independence, but what other “credits” might we attribute to him? He was also a scientist, an inventor, an architect, and even a philosopher. “The papers of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), diplomat, architect, scientist, and third president of the United States, held in the Library of Congress Manuscript Division, consist of approximately 25,000 items, making it the largest collection of original Jefferson documents in the world. Dating from the early 1760s through his death in 1826, the Thomas Jefferson Papers consist mainly of his correspondence, but they also include his drafts of the Declaration of Independence, drafts of Virginia laws; his fragmentary autobiography; the small memorandum books he used to record his spending; the pages on which for many years he daily recorded the weather; many charts, lists, tables, and drawings recording his scientific and other observations; notes; maps; recipes; ciphers; locks of hair; wool samples; and more.” (Library of Congress)

If you have ever used a pedometer to count your steps (I do so daily.), you can thank Jefferson for improving the pedometer function.

We all likely know Leonardo di Vinci created a device that periodically dropped stones into a bucket to count distance. His “design was a device worn at the waist with a long lever affixed to the thigh with a ratchet-and-gear mechanism that recorded the number of steps taken during walking.” (Science Direct) Then, In 1525, a French engineer/artisan and physician to Catherine de Medici, used the oldest known pedometer to compute the size of the earth. According to Interesting Engineering, “Jefferson’s contribution to the history of the pedometer may have involved improving on then-current designs and taking learnings from existing devices. He probably introduced a mechanical pedometer obtained from France and may have modified the design. Evidence for his work on the pedometer is difficult to come by, as he did not apply for patents on any of his inventions.”

If you have ever set down to a bowl of macaroni, you can acknowledge Jefferson for the noodles. But what else might be accredited to the man? Specifically, what Jefferson did was create a machine that could make pasta. It was a board with different holes spread about it that would produce small curved, hollow macaroni noodles as a crank was turned. This speed up the pasta-making process, helping turn it from a largely hand-worked endeavor into a far more automated one. (Interesting Engineering) “The best pasta in Italy,” Thomas Jefferson opined around 1787, “is made with a particular sort of flour, called Semola, in Naples.”

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Screen-Shot-2019-10-30-at-6.34.02-PM-489x1024-1.png
https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2019/12/thomas-jefferson-a-man-of-the-pasta/

Jefferson also had a device he called a “polygraph,” not a lie detector (as we think of the word now), but, rather, a device that took its function from the meaning of the word: “poly” means “many” and “graph” has something to do with “writing.” Jefferson’s polygraph created “many writings.” Interesting Engineering tells us, “Jefferson first acquired a polygraph in 1804 and called it ‘the finest invention of the present age’. It used the principles of the pantograph, a draftsman’s tool for reducing and enlarging drawings. The writer’s hand moves one pen, whose action is duplicated by a second pen, producing an almost exact copy. Its inventor, an Englishman named John Hawkins, assigned his American patent rights to Charles Willson Peale, and Jefferson was one of Peale’s most eager clients. Jefferson made many suggestions for how Peale could improve the design, which Peale took up.”

Library of Congress, Wikipedia ~ https://interestingengineering.com/lists/7-things-you-wont-believe-thomas-jefferson-invented

The Monticello Organization speaks to us of the Great Clock. It is a seven-day clock and can be found in two places at Monticello: the main entrance hall and on the east front of the house. Two cannonball-like weights keep the clock working. The gong to strike the hour is on the roof. The ropes carrying the weights descend on either side of the clock through holes in the floor to the cellar. Designed by Jefferson and built by Peter Spruck in 1792, the clock is still fully functional, even today. “The clock, with both an interior and exterior face, dictated the schedule of the entire plantation, inside the building and out. On the outside wall, the clock has only an hour hand, which Jefferson believed was accurate enough for outdoor laborers.  The inside face of the clock reveals much greater precision by offering not only hour and minute hands, but also a smaller dial for a second hand.”

https://www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/a-day-in-the-life-of-jefferson/museum-in-the-entrance-of-the-house/the-great-clock/

007 might have admired this next invention. “The wheel cipher was a helpful tool devised by Jefferson for encoding messages with ease. It was a small circular device with 36 wooden disks on a spindle. Each disk had letters of the alphabet in different orders. When arranged in different patterns, you could create a ‘key’ and inscribe messages under a set cipher.” Jefferson basically abandoned the idea sometime around 1802, but it was revived around 1922 and used by the U.S. military to the beginning of WWII.

NSA/Wikipedia ~ https://interestingengineering.com/lists/7-things-you-wont-believe-thomas-jefferson-invented

And most importantly for the purpose of this post, was the dumbwaiter, or more appropriately, the dumbwaiters found in Thomas Jefferson’s house.

There was a dumbwaiter in the cellar upon which a wine bottle could be placed to be drawn upwards into the dining room. Guests could serve themselves in what, at that time, was known as the “French” style. Food was prepared in the kitchen, located under the south terrace and connected to the house by the all-weather passageway. The meal was then carried up a narrow and steep staircase, and stacked on rounded shelves attached to one side of the Dining Room door. The door rotates from the center instead of hinging on one edge. Once the shelves were loaded, [servants] would turn the door so that the food would be inside the Dining Room. From there, dishes would be placed on small tables with shelves called dumbwaiters. The dumbwaiters — some of which were built at Monticello — were on casters so that they could be wheeled to the table. A guest who dined at the President’s House during Jefferson’s tenure recalled: ‘by each individual was placed a dumbwaiter, containing everything necessary for the progress of dinner from beginning to end.'” [The Jefferson Monticello] You can see a video of the contraption HERE.

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Book Blurb:

Mr. Darcy and the Designing Woman: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

“You do not know your place!” Elizabeth Bennet had heard those words time and time again from every man she encountered, with the exception of Mr. Thomas Bennet. Her dear father encouraged her unusual education, especially her love of architecture. 

Fitzwilliam Darcy finally could name the day his beloved Pemberley would know its renewal. For five years, he had denied himself the pleasures afforded the landed gentry in order to view Pemberley House rebuilt after a questionable fire had left it in ashes. He would now choose a wife as the next mistress of Pemberley and raise a family. 

When Darcy hires Elizabeth’s relation as his architect, they are thrown together in unexpected ways. He requires a proper Georgian manor to win the hand of an equally proper wife, but Elizabeth is determined only the house she has designed will do. The house of her heart for the man of her heart, even though she will never spend a day within. 

Excerpt from Chapter 9 (where Jefferson is mentioned for the first time):

It was nearly eleven of the clock when the carriage bringing Ericks, Luepke, and the two other men who would oversee the work on the house arrived. Though Mr. Nathan offered to greet the men, Darcy chose to do so himself. The surveyor, Mr. Bertram, and the builder, Mr. Campbell, accepted Darcy’s greeting, but quickly excused themselves to be about their own examinations of the site. Misters Ericks and Luepke asked Darcy to join them. 

As they walked about the perimeter of the present house, Ericks asked, “We are still in agreement for three storeys?”

“Yes, three,” Darcy responded. He noted how Mr. Luepke made notations of their conversation. 

Ericks pointed to a stand of burned-out timbers marking several rooms. “Some of the rooms must be razed, which will mean some of the walls still standing must also be brought down and rebuilt in order to have the proper load-bearing walls. As we are changing the size and shape of many of the rooms formerly in this part of the house, much removal and new construction will occur here.” 

“Understandable,” Darcy repeated, as he saw his former house with new eyes. 

Ericks smiled, “It is a bit daunting to think of how much has changed since your house was built in the late sixteen hundreds. If nothing less, think upon how much taller both men and people of the eighteen hundreds are in comparison to our ancestors. My brother Samuel jokingly says it is because the air is more filled with smoke and construction, and we must rise above it, but I believe it was God’s plan, which is ironic as I am the builder and he is the man of God. Nevertheless, I imagine a man of your height might, upon occasion, enter some rooms and be required to duck your head so as not to bang it on the door frame. Door frames, ceilings, and the like are higher than they once were, just as our beds are longer and sturdier, for they contain multiple mattresses. All these changes in the way people live change what we do as architects. While we are rebuilding your house, we should think a bit of the future. Sizes of the rooms should be a foot or two longer and the ceilings higher. Your three storeys will stand higher than your father’s did.” 

“Will that not look odd,” Darcy asked, “if this wing is taller than the other?”

“Perhaps, a bit,” Ericks stated, “but do you wish to give up modern conveniences to keep everything equal? Such can be done, but I would not suggest it. Obviously, eventually, you will be required to remodel the other wing. Buildings cannot stand forever against the elements, and the weather in Derbyshire can be quite harsh at times. Would you not agree?”

Darcy looked at the man suspiciously. “You are thinking I will hire you again sometime in the near future.” 

“Perhaps,” Ericks said with a laugh, “but I am attempting to be honest with you in all my estimations. Some you will enjoy hearing, others, not so much.” 

“So noted,” Darcy remarked. 

“Are you still satisfied with the number of pillars in the front? Not only do they mark the house’s greatness, but they serve as supports for different parts of the house. If you wish less, another means to support roofs, overhangs, and the like must be created,” Ericks explained. 

“I am satisfied.” 

“On another matter, all the surfaces must be covered in brick, meaning not only the new wing and the entrance, but also the older wing. There is no means of duplicating the color of the brick on the old wing of the house,” Ericks shared. 

“You are telling me, if I wish to remodel the wing I currently live in and have the house match in brick color, I should consider doing so sooner, rather than later,” Darcy said with a lift of his brows. “Could I not simply purchase more of the same brick and use them when I rework the other wing?”

“You could,” Ericks said with a grin. “The grey brick is currently readily available. It is generally easier to find if you are considering additional wings in the future. The yellow sandstone cannot be restored. It is too old and too worn. Again, we must consider the materials which will withstand both nature and time.”

“I assume you have brought samples,” Darcy said.

“Naturally,” Ericks said with a point of his finger to his drawing. “And a half storey on the top to be used as a drying room, extra quarters for servants, the movable table’s pulley, and storage. I provided you a view with and without the mechanism.” 

As Darcy studied the images before him, Ericks continued, “Do you know that fellow, Thomas Jefferson, the one who wrote the American independence document, has a number of such revolving shelves in his home. When he lived in France, Jefferson used portable serving stands when he hosted suppers at his home there. He put all the courses on the stands, which one actual servant could move about, even for a party of twenty or more people. 

“They say this Jefferson fellow has five such devices in his dining area at his home. He even has a spring-loaded turning shelf between the kitchen and dining room, which likely means it is all on the same floor, but the kitchen puts the plates on the shelf and then turns it so it appears in the dining room. After the meal, the empty plates are placed on the device to be returned to the kitchen. People say he had one just like it installed in the American president’s residence when he was there. When he wanted to discuss matters of national importance with those he dined, there were no servants about to overhear those secrets. I would have loved to have viewed it in person to see how it worked. 

“He also had some sort of lift mechanism to bring bottles of wine from the cellar to the floor above. Such is what I am thinking here.” Ericks pointed to the place on his drawing. “A system of weights and pulleys to move a variety of items through the house. Wine, as I have mentioned previously, food, smaller items, and even the laundry when it is to be dried on the lines in the garret. Naturally, nothing extremely heavy, for the lines would break, but strong enough for several pounds. As an added bonus, the shaft can assist with air flow throughout the house.”  

“Ingenious,” Darcy mumbled as he studied the diagrams from several angles and on several floors to have a better understanding of what Ericks spoke. 

“We will use a combination of dovetail joints, mortises and tenons and a post-and-beam construction.” 

“No wall studs from the sill of one storey to the second storey?” Darcy asked. 

“We will use whichever technique is most appropriate for the land upon which the house stands. Some parts are on solid rock and others on shifting earth. They cannot all be executed in a like manner, but the end result will be the same in the look of the rooms,” Ericks explained. 

“Let us revisit the garret when you come closer to that objective,” Darcy said. “I was looking at the dormers on Miss Elizabeth’s drawing, and I found them a very satisfying look.” 

“I will explore some other possibilities,” Ericks said with a slight frown, “but those decisions must be made quickly, as they will change other features of the house.” 

“Nevertheless, I would like the opportunity to make minor changes in your design if I see fit,” Darcy insisted. He could not quite let the house be built without a bit of Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s vision in it. Those changes would be his silent salute to the woman who had become quite essential to his view of the world. In years to come, he would look upon them and remember a remarkable woman. “I assume you either have such drawings available or can create them. I tend to be very ‘visual’ in such matters. I wish to know the end effect rather than to guess at the look of it.” 

“I understand perfectly, sir. I take the planning and construction of a man’s house as a sacred duty.” 

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