In my tale, Taming Lord Truist, Lord Augustus Banks, 9th Earl Truist, keeps his mistress in the borough of Hornsey. He first took on Miss Sarah Darling when he was straight out of university. He has always fancied himself somewhat in love with the woman, though he knows he cannot marry her, for she is but a very poor former governess.
Hornsey is between 7 and 8 miles north of London proper. The name Hornsey has its origin in the Saxon period and is derived from the name of a Saxon chieftain called Haering. Haering’s Hege meant Haering’s enclosure. The earliest-written form of the name was recorded as Harenhg’ in about 1195. Its development thereafter gave rise to the modern-day names of Harringay (the district of London), the London Borough of Haringey and Hornsey. Hornsey Village developed along what is now Hornsey High Street, and in the seventeenth century it was bisected by the New River that crossed the village in three places: first at the end of Nightingale Lane, secondly from behind the Three Compasses and lastly, as it does now, at the bottom of Tottenham Lane. Hornsey is relatively old, being originally a village that grew up along Hornsey High Street, at the eastern end of which is the churchyard and tower of the former St Mary’s parish church, which was first mentioned in 1291. At the western end is Priory Park. This was the administrative centre of the historically broad parish.
Book Blurb:
Taming Lord Truist: Book 2 of the Strong Regency Women Duo
“The very first moment I beheld him, my heart was irrecoverably gone.” – Jane Austen
Miss Eleanor Wilder has admired Lord Augustus Truist since she was a young girl. He had once protected her from an older boy who had meant to strike her. Now, she requires his protection again: This time, it is from her guardian, a cousin who means to marry Eleanor off to a man more that twice Ella’s age in order to keep Eleanor’s fortune in the family. As she will soon be one and twenty, Eleanor must convince Lord Truist to marry her himself, rather than see all her fortune go to a ne’er-do-well.
Lord Truist must save his family from disgrace and a touch of poverty by marrying an heiress of whom his mother approves, but he finds repugnant. However, when Miss Wilder offers him her fortune with no strings attached—a marriage of convenience—how can he refuse? As his countess, the lady would have the protection she required, and he would have the freedom to enjoy his long-time mistress, Miss Sarah Darling, without complaints.
How was he to know that the new Lady Truist not only loved him but was quite perfect in ways he did not realize he required?
Purchase Links:
Kindle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYLPJ72C
Available to Read on Kindle Unlimited
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D93SZ418?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520
Excerpt:
They were through the main course when Mr. Speaks stepped up beside August’s setting and extended a silver salver. “From Hornsey, sir,” the man whispered.
August snatched the message from the tray and looked to Eleanor, who was conversing with Lady Marlow, though his wife’s eyes briefly met his. Worry crossed her expression, but was quickly captured and placed from sight.
“Serve the next course, Mr. Speaks,” he ordered and slid the note into his inside pocket. He held no doubt that somehow Eleanor knew the source of the note. It had been more than a month since he had called on Sarah. She had never sent him any type of communication, especially not to his home, which meant something had happened which required his attention.
He noted the slight shake of Lord Lindmore’s head, but what was August to do? What if Sarah was ill? Had she been attacked? “Please carry on. I must address this. I humbly beg your pardon. I shan’t be long.”
His wife continued to chatter on to Lady Marlowe, but he could tell by the tone of her voice that she knew true concern.
August paused briefly to claim her hand where it rested on the table and to squeeze the back of it. He wished to apologize, for he held no doubt whichever choice he made—however he chose to act this evening—he would break Eleanor’s heart. He despised what he was about to do to her, for she was the most caring and gracious soul he had ever encountered. With a strength he admired in her, Eleanor nodded her permission for him to continue on.
He left the supper room and crossed into the library, where he reclaimed the note from his pocket. With his hands shaking, he broke the wax seal, expecting to read the worst. Instead, it said, “There’s a fire. S.”
“A fire?” he asked himself. “Where? Her house? Is she in danger?”
He was still looking at the sheet of rough paper when Lindmore slipped into the room. “What the hell has gotten into you? You left your wife to face your mother’s cronies alone!”
“There is a fire in Hornsey,” he said, not considering either the tone or volume of his voice.
“Shush,” Lindmore cautioned, catching August’s arm to drag him deeper into the room. “Please tell me you are not thinking of riding to Hornsey. You cannot leave your wife while you chase after your mistress. Such is unacceptable, Truist.”
“What if the house is on fire?” he asked in a panic.
Lindmore shushed him again. “First, if the house was on fire, why would Miss Darling take the time to write you a note to that effect? Moreover, if the house was on fire when the lady wrote the note, the building would be burned to the ground by now. Hornsey is nearly eight miles from here. That would be more than an hour by horseback for the note to arrive at Truehold House, and it will be another hour for you to reach her. Do you not think it a bit too convenient that during the evening you make a public appearance with Lady Eleanor that your mistress sends you a cryptic note? Have you heard from the woman even once in all these weeks of your marriage? Have you even called upon Miss Darling in all that time?”
“No. But Sarah is not of the same nature as other mistresses,” he argued.
Now on sale until August 16, 2024, Book 1 of the Strong Regency Women Duo. If you have not yet read Loving Lord Lindmore, claim your copy while it is only $0.99.
Loving Lord Lindmore: Book 1 of the Strong Regency Women Duo
LADY CORA TAKES SOCIETY BY STORM . . .
Lady Cora Midland, a highly-spirited country beauty, offers no pretensions, which wins many admirers, despite her lack of knowledge on how to manage the beau monde. However, Matthew Harrington believes she is taking advantage of his elderly grandmother, and he means to put a stop to the girl.
LORD MATTHEW LINDMORE IS IN DENIAL . . .
Lindmore reluctantly assists his grandmother in bringing Lady Cora out in Society. Yet, what appeared to be a daunting task becomes a transformation the earl does not expect. He finds the woman as delightful, as do others in the haut ton. Yet…
When Lady Cora is on the the verge of marrying another, Lindmore fears time will expire before he can speak his own proposal.
Kindle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTFSRB7R?ref_=pe_93986420_775043100
Available to Read on Kindle Unlimited
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTLY847C?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520
Audible (Virtual Voice Narration) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW4WLKGZ
GIVEAWAY: I have 5 eBook copies to give away to those who comment on any or all the promotional posts for TAMING LORD TRUIST‘s release. The eBooks will be presented on August 12, the release date.
Every Woman Dreams... 
I am quite curious to see what happens! Congratulations and thank you for the giveaway!
If you read Loving Lord Lindmore, you will see the changes in Truist that Eleanor invokes in him. Hornsey also shows up briefly in my first book for Dragonblade Publishers. It is called “Lyon in the Way” and is a mystery/romantic suspense, with an overlying mystery that covers all the books in the 5 book series. Similar in concept to my Realm series.
Thanks for the excerpt! I’m wondering how August handles this….
Not well.
That’s a shame. But it’s still relatively early in the book and his marriage. Can’t expect the hero to be perfect from the beginning
Got to have a character ARC.