Category Archives: marriage

Have You Ever Heard of a “Bachelor Tax”?

In the late 1600s (1695, to be more exact), the English parliament passed The Marriage Duty Act or Registration Tax, which imposed a tax on births, marriages, burials, childless widowers, and bachelors over the age of 25. The tax’s purpose was to rase revenue for the war with France. It was also to ensure proper records were kept by an Anglican church officials. The tax was found ineffective and abolished by 1706.  Continue reading

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Caroline Norton, a True Case of a Competency Hearing

Caroline Norton, born Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Sheridan, on 22 March 1808, in London (died 15 June 1877, London), was an English poet and novelist whose matrimonial difficulties prompted successful efforts to secure legal protection for married women. Continue reading

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A Young Lady’s “Come Out” in Regency Society

Recently, I received this question from an author/reader: Can you tell me if a young lady could have her debut ball at age 17 or 18, instead of the age 16 we customary read in Regency romance? Would a death … Continue reading

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Happy 14th Book Birthday to “Darcy’s Passions,” the Book Which Made Me a “Fiction Author”

During the 2007-2008 school year, I complained to my Advanced Placement Language class about a particular novel I had been reading for “pleasure,” what we would now call Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF), a genre just building in popularity for … Continue reading

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Dreams and Amnesia as a Romance Trope in “Darcy’s Temptation” + a Giveaway

First, I must disclose the original title for Darcy’s Temptation was Darcy’s Dreams. There are several poignant dreams which move the story along, even though quite a few of them are of the nature of a flashback. However, when Ulysses … Continue reading

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Nature and Music and the Importance of the Two in the Rerelease of “Darcy’s Temptation” + a Giveaway

Most of us would likely agree there is a relationship between music and nature. Listening to a babbling brook, the chirping of birds, and even the silence of snow are all common ingredients to which we can relate. In writing … Continue reading

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Derbyshire and Well Dressings and the ReRelease of “Darcy Temptation” + a Giveaway

The origin of the practice of what is known as “well dressings” is a bit of a mystery. Most believe the celebration dates back to the Celts, but few places, other than Derbyshire and Staffordshire, England, have kept the tradition. … Continue reading

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Cost of a Woman’s Clothing in the Regency Era

Recently, I had someone ask me about the cost of such items as court gowns for presentation to the queen and dresses for the London season. Another question came only a week or so later asking about food stuffs, etc. … Continue reading

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The “Churching” of Women After Childbirth

 Although it has largely fallen out of favor with Western religion, the concept of “churching” in the Church of England can be traced well into the 20th Century. (Margaret Houlbrooke. Rite out of Time: a Study of the Ancient Rite of … Continue reading

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Twelfth Night Sale on Regency Romance and Suspense, December 26, 2022, to January 5, 2023

All of the stories listed below will be on sale, starting today through January 5, 2023. Fill up your eReaders!!!! All books will be $0.99. These books are historical romantic suspense and Regencies, as well as two contemporary tales. Moreover, … Continue reading

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