I have often used a Queen Anne pistol in my stories, but were they exactly?
These pistol were possibly first made in England, they came in fashion in England during the reign of Queen Anne (reigned 1702–1714), which accounts for their name. This type of pistol is noted as being made small, so that it could be easily carried and concealed. Carbines of this design are also documented. I most always have my heroines handling a Queen Anne pistol, but, occasionally, my heroes carry one as a “spare,” so to speak, to their regular gun. Queen Anne pistols are a type of breech-loading flintlock pistol known as a turn-off pistol, in which the chamber is filled from the front and accessed by unscrewing the barrel. Another distinguishing feature of the design is that the lock-plate and the breech section (chamber) of the firearm are forged as a single piece.
A Queen Anne pistol by Turvey of London with exceptional silver decoration ~ Wikipedia ~ CC BY-SA 3.0
“Queen Anne pistols are typically rifled. To load, the barrel unscrews (with the aid of a spanner) just in advance of the chamber recess, that is filled with powder. The ball is placed in a conical seat (cup) at the end of the chamber before replacing the barrel. The breech end of the barrel is slightly enlarged to accept the ball. Upon firing, the ball fills the grooves of the rifling to create an effective seal. [Kinard, Jeff (2003). Pistols:An Illustrated History of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO. p. 34.]
Lyon in Disguise: Lyon’s Den Connected World
A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!
They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.
Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.
Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?
Tropes You’ll Love:
Enemies to lovers
Self-declared bachelor
Friends to lovers
Adversaries
Damsel in distress
Best friend’s sister
Different worlds/experiences
Soul mates
Emotional scars
Fish out of water
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.
One of the plot lines that encompass my Dragonblade mystery/suspense series is the killing of Spencer Perceval, the UK’s Prime Minister at the time. The assassination and the ultimate trial for John Bellingham who shot Perceval is the background for what was going on during 1812, when the majority of the tales take place. My heroes, as members of a group working for the Home Office, are actively involved in this investigation, though Perceval’s assassination is NOT a major plot point in the stories, but rather the back drop, as if one was watching a play being performed. Lord Aaran Graham, for example, is greatly moved by Bellingham’s “dignity” during the trial. Lord Benjamin Thompson, who has been trained as a surgeon, is in the hall when Perceval is shot and attempts to save the Prime Minister’s life. I have used the shooting as a means of telling my readers something of the “humanity” of each of the five characters.
John Bellingham was tried and executed for the assassination of British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval. Bellingham was swiftly tried at the Old Bailey on 15 May 1812, just four days after the murder. Despite a defense that attempted to claim insanity, he was found guilty and publicly hanged at Newgate Prison on 18 May.
The Crime: On 11 May 11 1812, John Bellingham shot and killed Prime Minister Spencer Perceval in the lobby of the House of Commons.
Trial:Bellingham’s trial took place on May 15 at the Old Bailey. He did not deny shooting Perceval but argued that his business dealings and imprisonment in Russia, along with the British government’s refusal to grant him compensation, drove him to murder. The defense tried to argue insanity, but the plea was denied.
Execution: Bellingham was found guilty and publicly hanged at Newgate Prison on 18 May1812.
Speedy Trial: The rapid sequence of events, from murder to execution, was standard for the time in cases with multiple witnesses and when the accused did not request additional time.
Bellingham’s Demeanor: During the trial, Bellingham seemed collected and calm, even appearing “serene and careless” at times. He also displayed an articulate defense, which made an insanity verdict unlikely.
Impact: Perceval’s assassination, carried out by Bellingham, left a vacuum in British leadership, and the speed of Bellingham’s execution was in stark contrast to the longer-term consequences of Perceval’s death on political and international affairs.
Supposedly, Bellingham was angry at the lack of assistance he had received from the Government and blamed it for his financial difficulties. Appeals to Perceval and his Ministers met with no success.
Bellingham stood, walked directly to Perceval, and fired point-blank into his chest. The Prime Minister’s last words were reportedly [though we do not know with accuracy], “I am murdered!” The killer sat down and waited for arrest: The trial stunned England.
Spencer Perceval enjoys the unfortunate distinction of being the only British Prime Minister to die at the hands of an assassin. His political career coincided with a period of upheaval created by the French Revolution.
John Bellingham’s trial and execution were marked by his unusual reactions and the broader public sentiment surrounding his actions.
At the trial…
Calm and collected demeanor: Bellingham appeared composed and unperturbed throughout the trial, even displaying moments of serenity and nonchalance.
Insanity Plea Rejection: While his defense lawyers attempted to argue insanity, Bellingham himself refused it, presenting an articulate and well-reasoned defense, according to the UK Parliament. He maintained he was justified in his actions, arguing he had been wronged by the government and that the Prime Minister’s refusal to address his grievances had forced his hand.
No personal malice: Bellingham explicitly stated he held no personal malice towards Spencer Perceval, emphasizing that his assassination was a political act meant to draw attention to the government’s perceived injustice.
Confidence in justification: He remained firm in his belief that his actions were justified, even expressing confidence that a jury of his peers would acquit him if allowed a proper hearing.
At the execution
Continued Calmness: Bellingham met his execution with remarkable composure and fortitude. He displayed no fear or remorse for his actions.
Religious Devotion: He partook in religious sacraments with apparent devotion, demonstrating his familiarity with Church of England practices.
Sense of Relief: Bellingham expressed relief that his troubles, stemming from his imprisonment and lack of government redress, would finally come to an end.
Mob Reaction: While a small segment of the crowd at the execution shouted “God bless you!” in a show of sympathy for Bellingham’s motivations, the clergy present did not inform him of this expression of support.
Defiance to the Last: Bellingham maintained that his actions were warranted, viewing himself as an instrument executing God’s justice due to the government’s perceived inaction. He expressed no contrition for Perceval’s fate.
Overall
Bellingham’s reactions at his trial and execution were complex. While his defense of insanity was rejected, his steadfast belief in the righteousness of his cause, his composure throughout the ordeal, and his lack of personal animosity towards Perceval suggest a man driven by a singular, obsessive conviction that he had been unjustly treated by the government, and felt compelled to resort to desperate measures to achieve justice.
Lyon in Disguise: Lyon’s Den Connected World
A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!
They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.
Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.
Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?
Tropes You’ll Love:
Enemies to lovers
Self-declared bachelor
Friends to lovers
Adversaries
Damsel in distress
Best friend’s sister
Different worlds/experiences
Soul mates
Emotional scars
Fish out of water
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.
Spencer Perceval served as the British Prime Minister from October 4, 1809, until his assassination on May 11, 1812. He was the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated while in office.
Here’s a more detailed look at his time as Prime Minister:
Appointment: Perceval was appointed Prime Minister after the Duke of Portland’s resignation. He was also Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time.
Key Policies and Actions:
He continued Britain’s involvement in the Napoleonic Wars, a major challenge during his premiership.
His government faced economic difficulties due to the war and trade restrictions.
He dealt with social unrest related to industrial changes and the Luddite movement, including making machine-breaking a capital offense.
Assassination: Perceval was shot and killed by John Bellingham, an embittered businessman, in the lobby of the House of Commons.
Succession: He was succeeded by the Earl of Liverpool.
In this book of my Dragonblade mystery/suspense series, the reader will hear Spencer Perceval’s name mentioned as part of the those who not only object to the Irish workers in England, but the Prime Minister’s views on Catholics, generally, and, specifically in Ireland. In writing these tales, each of Lord Duncan’s “sons” comment on the assassination of Spencer Perceval, but I leave it to Lord Navan Beaufort, who is an Irish lord and must contend with the Protestant/Catholic arguments in his homeland to mention the treatment of the Irish, as a whole, by the English.
Spencer Perceval held strong anti-Catholic views and policies throughout his political career.
Here’s a breakdown of his opinions:
Opposition to Catholic Emancipation: Perceval consistently opposed granting increased rights to Catholics, particularly in Ireland. He contributed to the downfall of Grenville’s government in 1807 due to his opposition to concessions to Catholics.
Concern about Catholic influence: He expressed concerns about “Catholic pretensions” and Catholic proselytism, perceiving them as a potential threat. In 1800, during a debate, he sounded an alarm about these issues.
Sectarian views of Irish affairs: Perceval’s perspective on Irish affairs was seen as highly sectarian, according to Lord Redesdale, a contemporary and political hardliner, who attributed the 1798 Rebellion to a “Catholic conspiracy.”
Defense of the Act of Union (with reservations): While he defended the Union with Ireland, he did not see it as a panacea to curb Catholic demands.
In essence, Spencer Perceval was a prominent figure in British politics who staunchly opposed the relaxation of laws against Catholics and held deep-seated concerns about their influence, especially in Ireland. His views reflect a period of significant religious and political tension in the United Kingdom.
Perceval also held strong opinions on the Luddite movement, doing his best to stop the Luddites from making progress in England.
In essence, Spencer Perceval, then Prime Minister of Britain, viewed the Luddites not as a legitimate social movement but as a threat to public order and industrial progress.
Here’s a breakdown of his stance and actions:
Authoritarian Approach: Despite earlier displays of a more liberal social policy, Perceval adopted an authoritarian stance towards the Luddites and artisans, as evidenced by his decisions in 1812.
Abolition of the Statute of Artificers: The repeal of this statute in 1812 further fueled the rage of out-of-work artisans, a key group within the Luddite movement.
Capital Punishment for Machine-Breaking: Perceval’s most controversial decision was to make machine-breaking, a central Luddite tactic, a capital offense (punishable by death). This decision drew strong criticism from his parliamentary colleagues but highlighted his belief that such acts were a serious threat requiring severe suppression.
Focus on Repression: Perceval’s government chose to respond to the Luddite movement with harsh measures, including the deployment of military forces to suppress protests and enforce the law, ultimately prioritizing industrial progress over addressing the workers’ grievances.
Underlying Context: This harsh stance reflected the political climate of the time, marked by wartime concerns (Napoleonic Wars), economic depression, and broader social unrest including the rise of radicalism alongside Luddism.
In essence, Perceval’s actions reflected a strong desire to maintain social order and protect the industrializing economy, even at the cost of suppressing worker protests through severe and unpopular measures.
Lyon in Disguise: Lyon’s Den Connected World
A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!
They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.
Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.
Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?
Tropes You’ll Love:
Enemies to lovers
Self-declared bachelor
Friends to lovers
Adversaries
Damsel in distress
Best friend’s sister
Different worlds/experiences
Soul mates
Emotional scars
Fish out of water
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.
In Book 3 of my The Lyon’s Den Connected World book, Lyon in Disguise, the hero, Lord Navan Beaufort, an Irish earl (with also an English barony), as part of his assignment to the Home Office, trains Mrs. Dove-Lyon and her staff to recognize fake bank notes that have been flooding the streets of London. From my piece on Monday, you likely realize that part of the problem was that the Bank of England accepted a variety of bank notes (those from foreign countries, those issued by country banks, etc.) as legal tender. The problem was how do those taking the bank notes know whether the notes are forged or not? This scene from Chapter Seven will give you an idea of how difficult this must have been. This was the fourth time that Beaufort had conducted a “lesson” in spotting fake bank notes to those at Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s gaming hell, previously looking at the ink color, the lack of a wire in the paper, etc. The Irish working for Mrs. Dove-Lyon wished to argue, for the English do not treat the Irish in England well. Think of that scene in the TV version of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South with Richard Armitage looking down on the factory floor and seeing the cotton fibers in the air. Yet, as Beaufort is also Irish, he soon takes control of the situation.
“First, permit me to say,” Navan continued, “I am sympathetic with those of you who believe the Bank of England should be actively seeking the ‘inimitable bank note.’ A country as powerful as the United Kingdom should be introducing a note that is impossible to forge rather than making piecemeal adjustments to its notes. However, no one is likely to listen to an Irish earl.”
“Or a maimed soldier,” Titan added.
“Or a woman who is both a widow and a former . . . Well, we all know my history,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said with an audible laugh.
“Let us come to some givens,” Navan suggested. “One issue is how country banks have been more aggressive in creating new note designs. Some have added double-sided printing and even color. Naturally, the notes are generally used in the community surrounding that particular bank, but many make it to London, along with foreign currency. All of which is accepted for payment and honored by the Bank of England. Therefore, someone might think a forged note is not actually one, but rather one of these oddities.” He handed such notes to those on either end of the rows to examine and pass on to the others to study.
“Unfortunately, we are still using the same techniques used in the fifteenth century to print our bank notes. Yet, there are obvious advantages of using this method. It means we can still replicate the late seventh century cursive writing indicative of that time period, which is used on all legitimate notes. It is what we commonly call Gothic style. You may not have known its name, but you are accustomed to reading it. For example, on our bank notes, there is a uniform flow of the lower strokes that rest on a baseline, with a lengthened end stroke or dash turning to the right.”
“Might you point out these specifics for us, my lord?” Titan asked. “Even I was not aware of all you just mentioned.”
“Absolutely. Such was what I planned for today. I might finish by saying that using the same method for so long provides us considerable continuity—finished plates covered in ink and the itaglio printing on a copperplate press. The problem we face that enables forgers to know success is the government must now print notes more quickly than they did before the institution of the policy of Bank Restriction.”
“How do we recognize the forged notes?” Titan asked. “We all should know this so even a shopkeeper does not pass on a bad note to us in our everyday dealings.”
“We have previously looked at the quality of the ink,” Beaufort explained, “and we should continue to do so. Now, we must also look at the quality of the paper being used. The Bank of England’s watermark changed from straight lines to wavy ones to make the notes more difficult to duplicate. There is also a thin wire sewn into the paper mold. The newly formed paper is left to dry over the wire.
“Most of the other necessary tools required for a forgery are easy to find—all, in fact, except for the paper. So let us examine the paper of several legitimate notes and compare them to a handful of forgeries—some quite skillful attempts and others who should be ashamed of their efforts.”
So What Is Gothic Writing?
Latin Paleography tells us, “othic is characterized by curves and Beneventan by shafts; Jacques Boussard (Boussard, Influences) pointed out that this type of pen, and broken writing, was already in use in the 11th century in insular monasteries and it is from here that the origins of Gothic may be found. The prevailing hypothesis, however, and the one that is most supported in scholarship is that Gothic is a direct derivation of Caroline.
“The shape of the letters remains that of Caroline, but is nevertheless executed with a different technique, due precisely to the use of the pen cut on the left. The result is a much more compact and heavier script, apparently far from the lightness and the airiness of Caroline. Although many variations developed over time and in the different European regions, the graphic style of Gothic maintains some constant general characteristics:
angularity and broken aspect of the curves;
tight and narrow appearance of writing on the line, with letters written very close to each other and with lines also very close;
small development of the top of the shafts and brevity of the few at the bottom;
uniform flow of the lower strokes that rest on the baseline, with a lengthened endstroke or dash turning to the right;
some other features such as: the simple e in place of the diphthong ae/oe, use of thin serifs on the i, a high number of abbreviations.
“Other special features include:
particular majuscule alphabet (exaggerated forms with increased dimensions and duplication of stokes from the Uncial alphabet and some elements of Capital script).
use of majuscule s (instead of high) at the end of the word;
use of high v at the beginning of the word;
use of ç (c with cedilla) for the z;frequent use of the sign Cconversum (a kind of inverted c) for con/cum;
use (ordinary from the second half of the 12th century) of q2 per quia;”
A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!
They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.
Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.
Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?
Tropes You’ll Love:
Enemies to lovers
Self-declared bachelor
Friends to lovers
Adversaries
Damsel in distress
Best friend’s sister
Different worlds/experiences
Soul mates
Emotional scars
Fish out of water
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.
The backdrop of my next book in The Lyon’s Den Connected World has to do with the Bank of London and the threat of forged and uttered faked bank notes. In Book 2, Lyon’s Obsession, Alexander Dutton, Lord Marksman’s and Lady Theodora Duncan’s tale, we are introduced to the idea of the crime, but the bank notes are not the center of the story. In Book 3, Lyon in Disguise, it is Lord Navan Beaufort’s assignment to stop the forgeries flooding London’s street, while keeping Lady Annalise Dutton’s safe. The reader hears more of the how easily it was to forge bank notes and how many in the England and elsewhere chose it to be their life style – cheating honest people out of their hard earned money.
In any city, there are also always pawn shops, and most folks would keep a strong box with some level of cash funds on hand–any country estate would need this in order to pay wages to servants and to workers. Houses in London would also require cash on hand to pay wages. The term “banknote” is used in numismatic and banking circles. Most of us just call them bills (dollar, etc.). Banknotes are promissory notes drawn on a bank’s funds. U.S. banknotes are drawn on the Federal Reserve Bank, and no other bank in the country is authorized to issue them. Similar in other countries.
Strictly speaking, they are promissory notes (or cheques/checks) issued by specific banks in a specified value. They are called Bank Cheques today, which are a different beast to cheques written by a bank’s customers.
The Bank Notes of old are the equivalent of today’s Bank Cheques/Checks – a check issued by a specific bank against its own holdings (they withdraw the funds from their customer’s account and hold it in their own reserves), and the bank holds that money until the the Bank Cheque/check is presented for payment.
A relatively new book called In These Times: Living in Britain Through Napoleon’s Wars 1793 – 1815 contains a lot of information on banks of which I was. It concerns the impact of the Wars on life in England and follows certain families, some involved in banking, for the duration. Can’t remember the author, sorry (my books are packed up for 3 months and it is driving me nuts). But I do remember my surprise at the number of local banks and the amount of commerce. The author mention’s Hoare’s bank. There are several references to banking and banks.– city banking and country banking. The Bank of England. ”
A beautifully observed history of the British home front during the Napoleonic Wars by a celebrated historian We know the thrilling, terrible stories of the battles of the Napoleonic Wars—but what of those left behind? The people on a Norfolk farm, in a Yorkshire mill, a Welsh iron foundry, an Irish village, a London bank, a Scottish mountain? The aristocrats and paupers, old and young, butchers and bakers and candlestick makers—how did the war touch their lives?
Several private banks dotted down Fleet Street and the Strand to Charing Cross, a busy corridor between the city and Westminster and the West End, all dealing with wealthy landed customers in need of mortgages and loans, or, if they were flush, a safe house for their deposits. Each bank had its distinctive clientele: Praed & Co in Fleet Street had the West Country and Cornish business; Drummond’s catered for army agents, Gosling’s and Child’s for East India company tycoons; Coutts dealt with the aristocracy and never with industry; Wright’s in Covent Garden looked after the Catholic gentry and Herries Bank in St. James Street, further west, issued cheques for smart travellers setting out on the grand tour.The rule at Hoare’s was that one partner was in attendance at all times. Ten clerks. One must be in at all times even on Sundays and Christmas day. They could live there.
Baring’s was a merchant banker even if the word was not used at that time.
The Quakers had several banks Lloyd’s in Birmingham, Backhouse in Darlington, and Gurney’s in Norwich.
I have read that Child & Co. was one of the London banks that catered to aristocrats, so many authors use that as my hero’s London bank. Just wanted to make sure that I wasn’t totally off to think that local banks, ones close to an aristocrat’s estate, would take deposits from an estate manager, then forward funds on to London, for an aristocrat’s town expenses. From your description of Austen Knight’s finances, it doesn’t sound as if this assumption isn’t wrong, at least for some land owners. Lady Jersey owned a good portion of the Child bank. It like Goslings is now part of Barclay’s. Some banks were purely commercial. Others did have personal accounts, they catered to anyone with substantial money.
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In Jane Austen, Edward Knight, & Chawton : Commerce and Community by Linda Slothouber she says that Edward Austen Knight’s primary London bank was Goslings Bank. He also used a bank founded by his brother Henry. Austen, Maunde & Austen which went bankrupt and made Edeard suffer a substantial loss.
Goslings bank had records of money deposited in country banks. One such was Hammond & Co, in Canterbury. That bank consistently sent large deposits to the Gosling bank. I imagine these deposits would travel with guards,
Agents also regularly made deposits in the Gosling bank. They were close enough to London to do so.
Sparrow & Co., an Essex bank also made deposits into the Gosling account. Money for current expenses and for current wages were kept on hand so not all money was sent to the bank. They were not quite in the habit of writing checks. Coin was preferred to paper and most servants and such were paid in coin. Though this book is about the finances of Edward Austen Knight, it is the only one so far that I have found that actually discusses the bank deposits. Others discus the debts, the expenses, loans made by the landowner to others or taken out from a bank.
The eighteenth century was the beginning of modern day banking in England. It was an exciting era in the economic realm, as it led to the emergence of modern financial institutions. International trade, as well as war with France, played a key role in the development of banks and a banking system. During this time, many significant events took place, including the advent of the check and banknote, the founding of the Bank of England, and the first instances in British history of inflation and forgery.
Many of the services provided by banks were merely a continuance of those offered previously by merchants, brokers and goldsmiths of the city. Indeed, it was the goldsmith houses of the late seventeenth century that became the banks of the 1700’s. The goldsmiths were well-to-do men with secure lodgings. The future bankers were not simply keepers and dealers of coin. They were men whose promises to pay were widely accepted as legal money. They were men of character and integrity. They issued endorsed receipts, which one could return to collect his money.
Anyone kept money with them might write a letter giving instructions to transfer a certain amount of money into another persons account. Thus, the concept of checks was born.56 Indeed, the coin shortage resulted in unregulated private bank notes supplying the need for money in circulation. The birth of banks can be, in part, attributed to British imperialism. The new avenues of international trade and commerce necessitated financial institutions to provide and move capital.
Banks arose according to the various need of the people. By the end of the eighteenth century, three main types of banks were in operation:
West end banks: Hoares, Coutts, Childs and Drummonds were mainly involved in business with the aristocracy, gentry, government (securities) and wealthy lawyers.
East End banks: Martins, Curries, Glyn Mills, Mastermans made loans to the members of the stock exchange, did business with traders and manufacturers, and acted as liaisons for country banks.
Country banks started springing up in the latter half of the eighteenth century. There were less than a dozen before 1750. Their arrival was due mainly due to the recoinage of guineas in 1774, which created a special need for banks to collect coins and provide alternative currency.
Lyon in Disguise: Lyon’s Den Connected World
A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!
They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.
Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.
Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?
Tropes You’ll Love:
Enemies to lovers
Self-declared bachelor
Friends to lovers
Adversaries
Damsel in distress
Best friend’s sister
Different worlds/experiences
Soul mates
Emotional scars
Fish out of water
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.
I have used Neidín, Ireland, and the Kenmare River in two of my Regency novels. This post perfectly fits with the one from yesterday on navigating the entrance to Cork City, for one will quickly understand that the Kenmare River is west of the entrance from Cork and a much easier means of moving product and goods inland to County Kerry and the mountainous regions of western Ireland.
Kenmare, also known by its Irish name Neidín (meaning “The Little Nest”), is a town located at the head of Kenmare Bay, also known as the Kenmare River. The bay is a long, narrow inlet of the sea, enclosed by the Iveragh and Beara peninsulas. The town is situated at the point where the Roughty River flows into the bay.
Kenmare (Neidín): The town is a popular tourist destination, known for its colorful buildings, scenic location, and access to both the Ring of Kerry and the Ring of Beara.
Kenmare River/Bay (An Ribhéar): This is a drowned glacial valley, also referred to as a ria or an estuary. It is a significant body of water, with a max length of around 50 kilometers and a maximum width of 10 kilometers, according to Wikipedia.
Relationship: The town of Kenmare is located at the head of the Kenmare River/Bay, where the Roughty River flows in, according to Irish Tourism.
Irish Names: The Irish name for Kenmare, “Neidín,” translates to “The Little Nest,” while the bay’s Irish name, “An Ribhéar,” means “river-mouth estuary” or “the bay of Neidín”, according to logainm.ie.
Dunkerron Islands in Kenmare Bay, County Kerry. View towards south east, with Beara Peninsula in the background. ~ via Wikipedia ~ Dunkerron Islands ~ CC BY-SA 4.0
The bay is enclosed by the Iveragh Peninsula on the north side, and the Beara Peninsula on the south, with most of its shores belonging to County Kerry, except for a small south-western part which belongs to County Cork. At its head is the small town of Kenmare.
A drowned glacial valley with Old Red Sandstone bedrock forms the bay. There are many small islands within the bay, including Dunkerron Islands, Greenane Islands, Rossdohan, Garinish, Inishkeragh, Illaunamadan, Sherky, Inishfarnard, Illaunleagh, and Illaunslea (Oileán Sléibhe). [Site Synopsis]
So, in 1812, when my story is set, items/supplies might be uploaded onto a smaller vessel, and then the ship would sail west from Cork and the River Lee to the opening of the Kenmare River/Bay and then inland. You will note in my tale, that Lord Beaufort takes Lady Annalise over the mountains to his grandmother’s estate, which was shorter in time, but much more rugged and dangerous than if he had taken her to Neidín first. Was he testing her endurance or her loyalty? One must read the tale to discover the answer.
A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!
They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.
Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.
Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?
Lyon in Disguise: Lyon’s Den Connected World
A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!
They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.
Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.
Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?
Tropes You’ll Love:
Enemies to lovers
Self-declared bachelor
Friends to lovers
Adversaries
Damsel in distress
Best friend’s sister
Different worlds/experiences
Soul mates
Emotional scars
Fish out of water
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.
The Corporation of Cork managed entering and exiting Cork City up until the early years of the 1800s. It was the Corporation’s duty to collect the necessary taxes imposed upon the ships and the city and manage the complex of quays marking the entrance into Cork City. One must remember that the city does not sit on Ireland’s coastline.
The waterway leading into Cork City, Ireland, is called the River Lee. It rises in the Shehy Mountains on the western border of County Cork and flows eastward, eventually reaching the Celtic Sea at Cork Harbour, a large natural harbor on the south coast. As the River Lee flows through Cork City, it splits into two channels for a short distance, forming an island upon which the city center is built. As one could imagine, by the early nineteenth century reaching Cork City’s harbor became more problematic with the size of the boats/ships.
Notable in earlier maps of the city are the quays depicted in the walled town of Cork and the myriad of quays constructed during the eighteenth century especially around the Custom House (now part of the Crawford Art Gallery) on the so-called eastern marshes.
Map of Cork South Docks, 1801 (source: Cork City Library) ~ Note the North Channel and the South Channel and the island in between ~ http://corkheritage.ie/?page_id=5884
“In early nineteenth century records, silting up of the River Lee estuary was a common problem. In 1820, Cork Harbour Commissioners were formally constituted and purchased a locally built dredger. The dredger deposited the silt from the river into wooden barges, which were then towed ashore. The silt was re-deposited behind the Navigation Wall. The Navigation Wall was completed in 1761 to be a guiding wall for ships entering into the city centre’s quays complex. During the Great Famine, deepening of the river created jobs for 1,000 men who worked on creating the Navigation Wall’s road. The road was later to become The Marina Walk.” [Cork Heritage]
In addition to trading with Britain, trading connections were developed with French ports for wine, brandy, and agricultural goods, and timber from the Baltic areas. Travel to and from North America was also developed. “The outbreak of the American War of Independence in 1775 and the subsequent entry of France into that war on the side of the Americans, meant that shipping on the routes across the Atlantic was vulnerable to enemy attack. One solution was to group large numbers of vessels together in a convoy and escort them to their destination with warships. The large sheltered harbour at Cork was ideal for gathering ships for this purpose during an age when sailing ships often had to wait days or even weeks for a fair wind. The value of the harbour was not forgotten when war broke out in the 1790s against France and again Cork became a busy gathering place for shipping. During this time, much of the main shipping activity took place in the lower harbour as navigation to the city itself was difficult for larger vessels. This was an increasing problem as the size of ships grew during the 19th and 20th centuries. As late as the 1870s, some ships still had to unload their cargo onto lighters (smaller vessels) at Passage West in the harbour to be brought up to the city.” [Cork Archives]
Lyon in Disguise: Lyon’s Den Connected World
A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!
They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.
Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.
Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?
Tropes You’ll Love:
Enemies to lovers
Self-declared bachelor
Friends to lovers
Adversaries
Damsel in distress
Best friend’s sister
Different worlds/experiences
Soul mates
Emotional scars
Fish out of water
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.
Please Note: The price of this book will increase to $3.99 on 11/26/2025.
The authorities recognised this problem and set about a series of improvements. A new Navigation Wall (now the Marina) was constructed from the mid-18th century to improve the access for shipping as it approached the city. Similarly, over time, the quaysides in the city itself were improved so that ships could more easily discharge directly onto the city docks. The result was greatly expanded shipping operations close to the city centre and near the various industries and trades there from the 19th century. Ironically, by the late 20th century large scale shipping activities again moved to the lower harbour where specially built deep water facilities were developed at Ringaskiddy.
Citizens of Cork saw gradual changes in the type of ships using their port over the centuries. Wooden hulled sailing vessels were the usual form of transport for people and cargo until the advent of steamships in the early 19th century. As early as the 1820s there were paddlesteamers regularly using the port, acting as ferries within the harbour itself, to other ports in Ireland and on routes to Britain. Steam and then diesel gradually overtook sail, although wooden cargo sailing ships still called to the port as late as the 1930s. From the mid-19th century iron and steel began to be used instead of wood in the construction of ships and, again, over time fewer and fewer wooden vessels were seen. During the 19th century Cork had successful shipbuilding enterprises constructing wooden and later iron vessels. They also built yachts and boats to cater for the popular recreation of pleasure boating in the harbour area.
When they reached Marksman’s home less than a half hour later, Navan turned Lady Annalise over to the maid who had assisted her mistress earlier. “I will be in the chambers at the end of the hall if her ladyship requires anything.”
“Yes, my lord.”
He turned to find Lord Graham still in the open door. “I did not realize you remained,” Beaufort said as he looked once more at the sleeping Annalise.
“Are you proposing soon?” Graham asked.
Navan nudged his friend from the room. “I am still considering the possibility.”
“Marksman will not approve,” Graham suggested with a grin. “Especially as you would be taking his sister so far away from him.”
“At the moment Marksman does not have a say in the matter. It will be Lady Annalise’s choice. If necessary, we will go to Scotland or Jersey to marry. Marksman gave up his rights to have a say in his sister’s life when he permitted Theodora to drag him around as if he was an obedient puppy.”
So what do you know of Jersey? I have used both Jersey and Guernsey in several tales, one still waiting to be published.
Jersey is officially called the Bailiwick of Jersey,[ and it is an autonomous and self-governing island territory of the British Islands. It is considered to have British Crown Dependency, and it not a sovereign state it its own right. It does, however, have its own laws and governmental institutions. It is located off the coast of northwest France and is the largest of the Channel Islands. It sets some 14 miles off the Normandy’s Cotentin Peninsula.
The “Baliwick” consists of Jersey and several uninhabited islands: Les Écréhus, Les Pierres de Lecq, Les Minquiers, and Les Dirouilles. [Les Écréhous & Les Dirouilles, Jersey]
Originally, Jersey was considered to be a part of the Duchy of Normandy, but Normandy was lost in war in the 13th Century, and the ducal title was surrendered to France. However, Jersey remained loyal to the English Crown, though it was never a part of the kingdom which became Great Britain. With its close proximity to France, Jersey was invaded several times during the Napoleonic Wars and the Anglo-French Wars. Even Germany occupied it for five years during the Second World War. The island was liberated on 9 May 1945, which is now celebrated as the island’s national day.
St Helier is the capital of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands in the English Channel. It is the most populous of the twelve parishes of Jersey, with a population of 35,822, over one-third of the island’s total population. The town of St Helier is the largest settlement and only town of Jersey.
Jersey has it own parliament, financial institutions, judicial system, laws of government. The Bailiff is the civil head, president of the states and head of the judiciary; the lieutenant governor represents the head of state, the British monarch; and the chief minister is the head of government. Jersey’s defence and international representation – as well as certain policy areas, such as nationality law – are the responsibility of the UK government, but Jersey still has a separate international identity.
Mont Orgueil was built in the 13th century after its split from Normandy. ~ Public Domain via Wikipedia
“The island has a large financial services industry, which generates 40% of its GVA.British cultural influence on the island is evident in its use of English as the main language and the pound sterling as its primary currency. Additional British cultural similarities include: driving on the left, access to British television, newspapers and other media, a school curriculum following that of England, and the popularity of British sports, including football and cricket. The island also has a strong Norman-French culture, such as its historic dialect of the Norman language, Jèrriais, being one of only two places in Normandy with government status for the language (the other being Guernsey), as well as the use of standard French in legal matters and officially in use as a government language, strong cultural ties to mainland Normandy as a part of the Normandy region, and place names with French or Norman origins. The island has very close cultural links with its neighbouring islands in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, and they share a good-natured rivalry.”[Quayle, T. (1815). A general view of the agriculture and present state of the islands on the coast of Normandy. London: Board of Agriculture. p. 48.]
A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!
They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.
Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.
Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?
Tropes You’ll Love:
Enemies to lovers
Self-declared bachelor
Friends to lovers
Adversaries
Damsel in distress
Best friend’s sister
Different worlds/experiences
Soul mates
Emotional scars
Fish out of water
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.
One of the major plot points of Lyon in Disguise is the hero, Lord Navan Beaufort, is sent to assist Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon and those at the Lyon’s Den to spot fake bank notes flooding the streets of London in 1812. One of Navan’s areas of expertise for the Home Office is the security of the Bank of London’s bank notes. He is also presented this assignment as many at the Lyon’s Den are Irish working in England. He is an Irish earl, so it is assumed he will have a easier row to hoe in this matter.”
“Assume,” as we say in America, makes an “ass” out of “u” and “me.”
As this is another of The Lyon’s Den Connected World books, it was necessary for me to include the infamous Lyon’s Den, its owner, and staff, in this tale several times.
A question from a reader led me to respond with both a mention of this upcoming release and a bit on card playing in the Regency.
Question: I know many books mention card playing going on in designated rooms at balls, but I haven’t heard what they were playing? Would they be gambling and playing games for money like 21 (apparently one of the most popular games of the day, even among families) or would they stick to games like Whist (I know they played this for stakes, too)? Would there be a person who would play the bank, as there was at the various clubs or hells?
I read somewhere about Fox and how much he and his brother lost even at supposedly staid places like Almack’s.”
Let us approach this question from several points. First, Charles James Fox (24 January 1749 – 13 September 1806) was a Whig MP and leader of the Opposition to William Pitt the Younger’s Tory government. He was a close personal friend of George, Prince of Wales, later George IV, and of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire.
Charles James Fox, a prominent Whig statesman of the Regency era, was famously plagued by immense gambling debts throughout his life.
Here’s a summary of his financial struggles:
Gambling Addiction: Fox was an inveterate gambler who frequented London’s gentlemen’s clubs like White’s and Brook’s, and the Newmarket races, where he often won and lost fortunes in single sittings.
Father’s Bailouts: His father, Lord Holland, reportedly paid off his son’s gambling debts to the tune of £140,000 before his death in 1774. This amount would be astronomical in today’s terms.
Continued Debt: Even after his father’s death and these significant payments, Fox’s debts continued to accumulate. He was declared bankrupt twice between 1781 and 1784.
Friends’ Support: Fox relied on a network of friends and political allies who frequently loaned him money or contributed to annuities to help cover his debts. The Earl of Carlisle, for example, even faced financial ruin himself due to his support for Fox.
Social Stigma & Tolerance: Despite the enormity of his debts, they didn’t entirely hinder Fox’s political career. While excessive gambling was frowned upon in Regency society, the upper classes were accustomed to high stakes and substantial debts. Gambling debts to fellow aristocrats were considered “debts of honor” that had to be paid promptly, even though debts to merchants were sometimes deferred.
Late Life Debts: Fox eventually abandoned gambling and racing in his later years, and his debts were significantly reduced by the support of political friends who not only freed him from debt but settled a comfortable income on him. However, at his death in 1806, he still left debts of £10,000.
Actually, they were referring to the gentlemen’s club Brooks’s, not our Almack’s; Brooks’s used to be called Almack’s, in the late 18th century. (Yes, I know, hopelessly confusing!) And our Almack’s (the place where every young lady making her come out wanted a ticket) was later called Willis’s Rooms (around late 1820s, which only adds to the confusion.
So the place Fox lost masses of money was the gentlemen’s club. However, I will say that our Almack’s was not as staid as Heyer and most Regency romances made out: It was assuredly not just a “marriage mart” (That was more the Victorian view of it), but a club where the wheelers and dealers of Parliament wheeled their deals (and dealt their wheels?), and where one would meet everyone of importance on a Wednesday night. So I expect there was some significant money lost and won at our Almack’s, too, on occasion…
Almacks’ was a gambling house that rented out rooms for private events and the assembly.
In Heyer’s Faro’s Daughter, the family has a gambling house where Faro was played. It was a game with a bank that people played against the house. They had a bouncer and usually had people by word of mouth because it was illegal to have a Faro bank. [I used something similar as a plot point in my The Jewel Thief and the Earl.] The caricaturists had a field day with a couple of high class women who were arrested for running a gambling house playing Faro. The prints show them being whipped at the back side of a cart– that didn’t happened, but the authors and artists advocated it.]
The clubs and gambling hells had games with dealers and held the bank. People bet against the house which won more than 50% of the time.
Private games were between two or more people, and they set their own terms and limits.
In clubs one had to buy cards. In private parties cards were provided.
If you are interested in a quick overview of the various games, you can find information on Risky Regencies.
BTW, there are multiple period pieces from Hoyle’s on Google books (though the period rules can be hard to make out.)
Lyon in Disguise: Lyon’s Den Connected World
A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!
They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.
Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.
Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?
Tropes You’ll Love:
Enemies to lovers
Self-declared bachelor
Friends to lovers
Adversaries
Damsel in distress
Best friend’s sister
Different worlds/experiences
Soul mates
Emotional scars
Fish out of water
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.
Short Teaser from the latter part of Lyon in Disguise where “belamite” is used.
“Your wife has moved quite easily into the role of society wife,” Aaran said from somewhere off Navan’s shoulders.
“I do not think Annalise is quite ready to tolerate Prince George, as are the Smithfield ladies, nor could she compete with Lady Orson, but then again I do not hold the same type of aspirations as does Richard, who would one day wish to be Prime Minister,” Navan admitted.
“Neither do I,” Graham commented. “Then again . . .”
Navan turned to confront his brother. “No more belittling yourself, Aaran, or you may be required to contend with me.”
Graham shrugged in embarrassment. “We are an odd pair, you and I. That is because we are the non-English members of Duncan’s family,” Graham observed.
“But you are also Scottish,” Navan said as he crossed to pour them both a drink. “That leaves me the bedlamite of the family.”
Navan noted the slight blush on Graham’s cheeks. Perhaps Annalise’s speculation regarding Graham’s interest in the woman was correct.
So what exactly does the word “bedlamite” mean in this situation? A “bedlamite” is an archaic term for a lunatic or a person with a severe mental illness. The term is derived from “Bedlam,” the popular name for the Hospital of Saint Mary of Bethlehem in London, which was a mental asylum. Therefore, a bedlamite is essentially someone considered to be mad or insane, often associated with the chaotic and uncontrolled environment of the former Bedlam institution according to the Online Etymology Dictionary.
Lord Navan Beaufort believes he and Aaran Graham have lost their senses, for the are fighting more for England than their home countries, which is a constant source of self-chastisement for the Irish lord, especially when he views his fellow Irishmen being belittled by the English.
Lyon in Disguise: Lyon’s Den Connected World
A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!
They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.
Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.
Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?
Tropes You’ll Love:
Enemies to lovers
Self-declared bachelor
Friends to lovers
Adversaries
Damsel in distress
Best friend’s sister
Different worlds/experiences
Soul mates
Emotional scars
Fish out of water
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.
Every Woman Dreams... 