One of the things we learn of the antagonist in this tale is his former life as a pirate or privateer. What do we know of such men? My dear friend Lauren Gilbert has a most excellent piece on “pirates,” and so I am quoting her here: “The hey-day of piracy as we think of it was during the 1700’s in the Caribbean and was dominated by Blackbeard (Edward Teach), Henry Morgan, Jean Lafitte. It was largely suppressed by English and American navies by Jane Austen’s time.
“The Barbary pirates, also known as corsairs, were very active during the Georgian era. They were based in northern coast of Africa, in Morocco, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli. These were separate nations but all were ruled by the Ottoman Empire. They plundered ships in Mediterranean, and frequented the Adriatic and the seas around Ireland and Iceland. They were known for holding people of means or status for ransom, and for taking slaves as well as merchandise. (They needed roughly 200 men per ship to man the oars of their galleys.) They favoured galleys which were fast and easy to manoeuver in shallow waters; they also liked to disguise themselves as merchant ships. The Barbary pirates were active during the Regency era (they were not completely suppressed until the Victorian era). Byron’s poem “The Corsair” was a romance inspired by them.
“Privateers were privately owned ships whose owners had letters of marque from their own government authorizing seizure of enemy ships, especially trade ships. There was a very thin line between privateers and pirates: many privateers exceeded their license, and one king’s privateer was another’s pirate. Privateers were still present during the Regency era and eers usually held no scruples about exceeding their letters of marque if profit ensued. An interesting side note: by the Regency era, pirates wore what normal gentlemen did: boots, trousers or breeches, shirts with stocks and coats.” (Piracy During the Late Georgian Era)
I have written several books of late where the hero or heroine or both must cross the Irish Sea. You will see this again in book 3 of this series when Lord Beaufort returns to Ireland for part of the book. There were several points in Wales and Scotland to cross, depending on where one was headed in Ireland. Crossing from those point, generally, meant the person was headed to Dublin or further north. One could also cross with some regularity out of Bristol, England, but those crossings were customarily headed to Cork City in County Cork. Those crossing to Cork were often plagued by pirates or privateers. What was the difference?
By the Regency era, the focus of piracy had shifted, with the Barbary Corsairs operating from North Africa being a primary concern in the Mediterranean, primarily targeting ships for slaves rather than plunder.
However, it is important to distinguish between pirates and privateers. Privateers, authorized by their governments through letters of marque, [Marque derives from the Old English mearc, which is from the Germanic *mark-, which means boundary, or boundary marker.]were essentially legal pirates, sanctioned to seize enemy ships during wartime. This blurry line between legality and outright piracy existed in the Irish Sea during this period, particularly during conflicts like the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812.
Beyond official privateering, smuggling was a pervasive form of maritime crime in the Irish Sea and along the British coast during the Regency era. Taxed goods like tea, brandy, and silks were commonly smuggled in and out of England, especially along the English Channel and areas near the Irish Sea. Smuggling operations were often elaborate and carried out by organized gangs, sometimes with the tacit complicity of local communities who benefited from the trade and feared retaliation from the smugglers. The British government struggled to effectively combat smuggling, particularly during wartime when naval resources were stretched thin.
Enjoy this short excerpt:
“Did you realize Theodora just left the house with a gentleman?” Alexander asked. Viewing Dora on the arm of another man had shaken Alexander more than he would care to admit. Seeing her with Justin Hartley was one thing, but with a man he knew only by name but one Alexander would make it his business to learn more of, had rattled him thoroughly. Since, as long as he could recall, the “dream” was to marry Theodora. They were to see Duncan into old age with grandchildren all about and adoring their grandfather.
When Duncan did not respond, meaning Theodora’s business was none of Alexander’s concern, Xander began again, “You sent for me? Hopefully, you have new information on Honfleur. I am exhausted from trailing him about town. Most days it appears he takes great pleasure in leading me from one tea party to the next. I believe the man possesses a hollow leg. I never knew anyone who could drink a good twenty cups of tea in a day without carrying a chamber pot about.”
Duncan ignored Alexander’s attempt at levity, a warning of what the earl meant to share was extremely important, and, so, Alexander sobered quickly.
“You best sit down,” Duncan advised without looking up from the paper his lordship held in his hands to meet Alexander’s worried expression—a fact which sent a shiver of dread down Alexander’s spine.
“That bad?” Alexander asked as he claimed a seat before Duncan’s desk. “Has the situation with Honfleur escalated? Has something occurred with Miss Moreau? I have not viewed even a glimpse of her since that night at the inn. Has Honfleur sent her away?”
Duncan eyed him with a peculiar look. “You have developed a strong interest in the lass,” he said sagely. “It is not wise to forget she is part of Honfleur’s family.”
Alexander shrugged his response. He knew his obsession with Miss Moreau was not appropriate, but he could not seem to keep the woman from his mind. “I believe she fears Honfleur,” he confessed.
“I would think anyone who does not fear Honfleur would be making a mistake,” Duncan stated plainly.
“I comprehend your warning,” Alexander responded in seriousness. “I assume you have additional information regarding the marquis, and you mean to remind me of our obligation to this investigation.”
“Aye, but not as you assume,” Duncan said gravely.
“Then perhaps we should skip the various warnings and come to the point,” Alexander suggested.
Duncan cleared his throat before retrieving another letter from his desk drawer. “I have heard from our agents in France, and it is as we expected: Honfleur is not a marquis.”
“I knew such was true,” Alexander declared with glee. “What else did we learn?”
“Honfleur is not French at all. He is British.”
“Such explains the combination of French and English he often uses,” Alexander observed. “I should have realized his use of French was odd, especially as Miss Moreau’s English has tones of the Lake District in it. Now that I think about it, when I asked the lady if Honfleur was English, all she said was her parents were English, and Honfleur was her mother’s half-brother, who came for her when she was in Honduras.”
“We have information saying Honfleur captained a ship in the West Indies and along the coast of America, making a living essentially as a privateer and running brandy and rum and other goods where there was a market.”
Lyon’s Obsession: The Lyon’s Den Connected World
Short on temper. Long on pride. True to his word.
Lady Theodora Duncan, daughter and only child of Lord Macdonald Duncan, reluctantly embarks on a London season in hopes of making a suitable match. She had always thought she would marry Lord Alexander Dutton, 12th Earl Marksman. After all, they had been raised together in her father’s house since Duncan became Marksman’s guardian when his lordship was but twelve. Her father’s estate marches along with Marksman’s, and they had shared multiple words of devotion, as well as stolen moments and heated kisses. Yet…
Lord Alexander Dutton always planned to marry Lady Theodora Duncan, but not until he finds his family. His father, long before Robert Dutton became the heir to the Marksman’s peerage, had sold Alexander’s mother and younger sister to the captain of a sailing ship. Alexander has searched for them for some ten years, spending thousands of the Marksman fortune in his desire to reclaim them. He cannot think truly to know happiness until he can share his title and his wealth with them. Assuredly, Theodora understands why he has not made an offer of marriage. Yet, if she does, then why does he constantly find her on the arm of a Sardinian count? He never expected Theodora’s abandonment, but Alexander is finally so close to knowing his real family again.
Must he risk one dream to know another?
Tropes you’ll love:
✔️ Friends to lovers
✔️ Soul mates
✔️ Secret identity
✔️ Fish out of water
✔️ Unrequited love
✔️ Dark secret
✔️ Emotional scars
✔️ Marriage pact
✔️ Innocent cohabitation
✔️ Love interest vs. Missing family
✔️ Honorable marriage
✔️ Marriage pact
✔️ Emotional scars
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Every Woman Dreams... 
Congratulations on the new book, Regina! It sounds fascinating. I look forward to it. Thank you for the mention!