On December 1, 2022, A Regency Christmas Doubled, an anthology with romantic stories all about twins will be released. My story, Bell, Book, and Wardrobe, is one of the four delightful tales to read on a cold December night. My story takes place toward the end of the Georgian period in England. The main character, Colonel Ian Coates, while home on leave from his duties to the British Army in Burma, travels to the Menai Suspension Bridge on government business.

One of the major events of 1826, when the story is set, was the Menai Suspension Bridge, between Anglesey and the mainland. a distance of 176 metres (580 feet). It ran between Bangor, Wales, to the Isle of Anglesey.

When Ireland joined the United Kingdom in 1800 through the Act of Union the route between London and Holyhead became a physical link between Parliament and Ireland. Before the Menai Suspension Bridge this journey was a notoriously dangerous undertaking.

Thomas Telford began working on this project in 1819. His construction was truly a groundbreaking piece of civil engineering. Completed on 30 January 1826 and spanning the Menai Strait at its narrowest point, the Menai Suspension Bridge was then the biggest suspension bridge in the world. Composed of 935 iron bars each (a total of 2000 pounds of wrought iron), sixteen enormous chains held up 579 feet of decking, leaving 100 feet of space beneath. This space permitted large sailing ship to navigate the seaway by passing underneath. The journey from London to Holyhead was reduced by some 8 hours (from 36 to 27 hours). The deck was designed to permit two carriageways, suspended by iron chains from masonry towers at either end.

Though damaged by storms, the bridge survived because of the addition of transverse bracing and trussed railing. In 1939, to accommodate increased automobile traffic, the chains were replaced by steel cables.

In my new tale, Bell, Book, and Wardrobe, my hero, Colonel Ian Coates is one of the representatives of the English government celebrating the opening of the Menai Suspension Bridge. It is on his return to London, he first meets the heroine Miss Galla Casson.

Book Blurb:

They may be able to disguise their appearance, but not the love in their hearts. 

Miss Galla Casson wished with all her being her cousin Lady Helena Aldrete had consulted her before Helena ran off with a simple “Mr. Groton,” a country solicitor. However, Helena had not. Now, in desperation, Galla must pretend to be her cousin at a Christmas house party where Helena was to meet her intended, but just long enough for the Holy days to come to an end and for Galla to earn employment in London. 

Colonel Ian Coates did not relish pretending to be his brother, Evan, the Earl of Claiborne, but in order to reclaim several precious heirlooms stolen from Evan in a savage attack, Ian practices his deception. The only problem is the woman who is to marry Evan’s assumed attacker is a woman Ian has previously presented a small piece of his heart. 

Ian’s and Galla’s double deception threatens to overset their purpose in being at the same house party until a bell, a book, and a wardrobe lead them to a lifetime of singular devotion.

NOW ON PREORDER AT ONLY $0.99 ON AMAZON. WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED WITH A RELEASE DATE OF DECEMBER 1, 2022.

PURCHASE LINK

GIVEAWAY: I HAVE 2 eBOOK COPIES OF “A REGENCY CHRISTMAS DOUBLED” TO SHARE WITH THOSE WHO COMMENT ON THE POST. THE WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED IN ADVANCE, BUT THE eBOOK WILL NOT BE DELIVERED UNTIL DECEMBER 1.