Anne Gallagher

Excerpt from The Duke's Divorce (Page 134)

2012-02-28T08:52:00.000-05:00

Upon entering his home, Robert asked Edwards to find his wife and have her meet him in the library. Her knock came a few minutes later.

“Fiona,” Robert said, and stood from his chair. “How do you feel?” She looked weary.

“I am well, my lord,” she said. Her eyes were bloodshot as if she had been crying for days. “You wish to speak to me?”

“Yes.” He led her to the chairs in front of the windows.

“Good. I need to speak to you as well.” She took a deep breath and settled her skirts. “I wish to know if you have had the annulment papers drawn.”

Surprised at her question, he answered truthfully. “Yes, if you must know, Berkeley and Goss had them drawn since our return from

Scotland

. Why?”

“I see,” she said. “And do you keep them here?”

“Fiona, what is all this about? Why do wish to know about the papers?”

“Please, my lord, pray answer the question. Are they here?” Desperation marked her tone.

“Yes, they are in my desk.”

“May I see them?”

“Fiona, what do want with the annulment papers? We have several months….”

She interrupted him. “My lord, if you would be so kind as to show me the papers.” Her voice now held steely determination.

Robert rose from the chair and Fiona followed him to his desk. She watched intently as he removed the ring of keys from his inner coat pocket and opened the locked drawer near the bottom of the desk. He pulled out the sheaf of papers and handed them to her. “I ask again, what is this all about?”

Fiona studied the paperwork and then looked at him. “I wish you to submit these to your solicitor. If my signature is required, I will sign where you indicate.”

“What?” She could not be serious.

“I wish you to seek the annulment now, my lord. I should not like to wait. And if that cannot be done, then I wish you to seek a divorce.”

Robert sank down in the chair behind his desk. “Absolutely not.”

“I beg your pardon?” The bravado she had shown earlier dissipated a fraction.

“I said no,” Robert stated vehemently. There was no way he would move ahead with the annulment now.

“And may I ask why not?”

She would never believe him if he told her the truth. He thought quickly. “You are still recovering from a very bad fright. You have not found a suitable husband to take my place. And it will do great harm to my career if you swan off now, before the dinner party and I introduce the legislation to the House floor.” Robert ticked off his points on three fingers.

“I see.” Fiona slumped down on the edge of the chair in front of his desk.

Robert gentled his voice. “Fiona, tell me what brought this on. Is it because of what happened the other night?”

“Yes, in a small way. My misfortune the other night, and the subsequent gossip in the papers have shown me what a blight I have been on your family. Everyone knows we do not suit and I feel it is in both our best interests if you would just let me go. I will forgo the settlement and the jewels, if you will allow me to keep the gowns and other clothing.”

Robert paused to think. “And how would you make your way in Society?”

“I have been thinking of opening a shop. I own a certain knack for wool and cloth and I could make my way very well indeed if given the opportunity. I would no longer be the Duke of Cantin’s wife, but I am still the Earl of Stewart’s daughter such as it is, and with the independence of a career I would not have to suffer through the indignities of life as much were I not born to it.”

“I see.” Robert leaned back in his chair. She had thought this through carefully. “I shall think about it,” he said.

“But, my lord, you must....”

“I said I shall think about it, Fiona.” He didn’t mean to sound harsh, however, the girl had just thrown him through a circus hoop. “Now is there anything else?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact there is.” She stood with her shoulders square. “After the annulment, I should like to take Merry with me. I have grown quite fond of her, almost like a sister, and it would cause Cantin House no great harm to lose one small insignificant parlour maid.” She took a step to go and then turned back. “Also, Penny’s ball is tonight at Caymore House and I will be attending with your mother, naturally. I do not expect you to escort us, but please do try to make an appearance. Penny will be quite put out if you do not.”

He could tell by the jut of her chin as she walked out, this discussion was far from over.

Bloody hell! Just when he found what he wanted from the chit, she now wanted the annulment! Robert ran his hands through his hair and gazed down at the papers on his desk. Well, she would not get it. He would be damned if he would let her run off to be some sort of modiste. What would that do to his reputation? He could see the headline now –

Duke of Cantin’s Former Wife Now a Dressmaker.

He’d stalled her for the nonce, but how long would it be before she took matters into her own hand to ask for an annulment from him? Damned unconventional wench! He knew she would hire her own solicitor and do it too.

The Duke's Divorce

2012-02-18T19:28:00.000-05:00

The Duke's Divorce is now available from Amazon.

A simple trip to the Scottish Highlands turns into a nightmare for Robert Carlton, the Duke of Cantin. A misunderstood act of kindness results in his wedding, at gunpoint, to Fiona, the Laird Stewart’s daughter. Both Robert and Fiona are distraught by the forced marriage, until Robert comes up with a plan – they will remain married for six months, after which, the marriage will be annulled and Fiona will receive a generous settlement.

Robert’s restrictive contract for his new duchess causes Fiona to rebel. Her impeccable beauty, fiery disposition, and her penchant for finding scandal wherever she goes, take Society by storm, and living with the oppressive duke has her wanting out of their marriage sooner than the proposed six months.

To his astonishment, Robert becomes enamored with the many charms of his unorthodox bride. However, remaining chaste was part of their agreement, though desire and jealousy prove a powerful aphrodisiac.

Convincing Fiona of his love is the hardest thing Robert has ever had to do. But when he thinks he’s won her heart, a devastating secret from his past surfaces. Will the promise of an uncertain future with Robert be enough to keep Fiona from filing divorce papers of her own?

The Latest Love Story

2012-02-10T20:00:00.000-05:00

Fate deals a cruel blow on the third day when the chance to see the delightful Miss Cummings one last time is thwarted by mere moments. Thomas will do whatever it takes to discover if what he feels for her is real, but it may be too late.

This short story is the companion piece to A HUSBAND FOR MISS TRENT, written from Davingdale's perspective.

You can find it here.

The Latest Love Story

2012-02-10T19:55:00.000-05:00

Thomas Merrit, the Earl of Davingdale, wants nothing to do with Society. His fondest wish -- to rebuild his dilapidated barn for his newly acquired collection of horses. Until he meets the enigmatic "Miss Ophelia Cummings" who is only in town for three days. Their paths seredipitously cross twice and Thomas is drawn to her like no one before.

Fate deals a cruel blow on the third day when the chance to see the delightful Miss Cummings one last time is thwarted by mere moments. Thomas will do whatever it takes to discover if what he feels for her is real, but it may be too late.

This short story is the companion piece to A HUSBAND FOR MISS TRENT, written from Davingdale's perspective.

You can find it here.

Who Would You Choose?

2012-01-29T07:18:00.001-05:00

I'm working out the kinks for a new book and I'm undecided as who to have as my hero. So I'll let you choose.

This guy...

Or this guy....

As you can tell from either picture he's a tortured soul and he needs a good woman to lift him out of the darkness.

So, who do you want in the next book?

Interview with a Character -- Lady Olivia

2012-01-16T06:11:00.162-05:00

Good morning. Recently a question was posed -- Which one of your characters would you like to see meeting another character from a different book? And I thought it would be especially fun if Lady Olivia Leighton could have a smackdown with Lady Catherine de Bourgh from Pride and Prejudice. For those of you who know my Lady Olivia and Jane Austen's Lady Catherine, I think it would be a fair match-up.

In a round about way, this got me thinking, perhaps I should interview Lady Olivia. I mean why not. I'm sure her fans, (and I know there are several) would like some in depth information from her.

So allow me to present, my interview with Lady Olivia.

Lady Olivia, thank you so much for taking the time to visit here today. It's a distinct honor and priviledge.

'Tis very nice to be here. Thank you so much for asking.

I hope you don't mind if I jump right into the questions.

Not at all.

I'm sure your fans would love to know how you came to be such a large part of my books. You seem to finagle your way into the strangest situations. Do you have a penchant for meddling?

I do not think I would refer to it as meddling, rather the occasional helping of a friend in need. I cannot help if I am at the right place at the right time.

And somehow your "helping" always revolves around those who are looking for love. Would you consider yourself to be a match-maker?

I should not wish to call it match-making perse, rather a knowing which parties would suit each other best. I have been in Society for decades and have seen perfectly lovely people ruin their lives by making a foolish match. Those that I help, I do so with their utmost happiness in mind.

May we talk about your own happiness for a moment? I find it interesting that you never remarried after your husband's demise even though you were still a young woman, yet now you have formed, what we shall call a "tendre", for your niece's butler. Aren't you afraid of what Society might say?

I have never cared a whit for what Society might say. I married my Fuzzy when I was ten and seven and he was four and seven. We were exceedingly happy together for over five and thirty years. Love is love. When you find the right man, you know it. It matters not if he is an aristocrat or a butler. Quiggins is the truest and best of men and I find he is more the gentleman than some of the highest ranking members of Parliament.

There's been talk of your recent illness. Is that why you use a cane?

Certainly not. The cane is merely an actor's property, if you will, that I use to make my point. I find it imposing, and it makes a decided statement, do you not think? I also find it very handy to use as a weapon.

And lastly, I've often wondered why you get so many of the best lines in my books. Could you tell me who I'm channeling?

I'm sure I have no idea how you come to receive such information. Certainly it must relate to your own upbringing. Did you not say once, your aunt played a very important role in your young life. Perhaps it is her in which you relate to me.

Can you give us an idea where we'll be able to find you next?

I believe I have the honour of appearing in THE DUKE'S DIVORCE shortly. Poor Fiona is having a devil of a time with Robert. I do hope in the spring, THE LADY'S MASQUERADE will be well and settled and you will find me in a leading role with my niece, Penny and the charming William. Next autumn, my nephew, Rory, the Earl of Bailey, will have his chance to find love with the delightful Lady Rosamund, in THE EARL'S ENIGMA (or is it Enquiry? Have you finally decided on a title, dearest?) and I have every intention of seeing that match made personally. In THE CAPTAIN'S LADY, with Richard and Amanda, I show strength of character by using the aforemetioned cane as a weapon. And then I do believe I shall retire from the literary life. All this gadding about, becoming involved with intrigues and schemes at my age, has been somewhat wearying. I should like nothing better than to lay about on a chaise, with my cat and a book for quite some time.

Thank you so much, Lady Olivia, for being here today. It's always a pleasure to talk to you.

And if you have any questions for the duchess, I'm sure Lady Olivia would be delighted to answer them.

Talking Heads

2012-01-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Most writers can't let go of the idea they may be schizophrenic at least once or twice in their lives. They have people living inside their heads. They hear voices, they talk to themselves.

I'm no exception. Standing in line at a grocery store not too long ago, I blurted out to the cashier, "That's why Ophelia didn't recognize Davingdale, she wasn't wearing her glasses!" Naturally, the cashier thought I was nuts.

Living in our heads with other people is hard. Especially when you accidentally call your children by your characters' names. Or your significant other. Somehow, they're always there. You can't escape them.
Hence the shcizophrenia. (And please, for all intents and purposes, this is just a playful concept. I know and understand that schizophrenia is a dreadful and serious disease.)

My characters come to me out of the blue. I don't ask for them. I don't look for them. They just magically appear out of thin air. Sometimes it's only a name. Sometimes a snippet of conversation.

Penny and William (THE LADY'S MASQUERADE) appeared to me in a gazebo having a conversation. I had no idea who they were or what they were doing, but there they were. And I took that conversation and wrote it down. Mind you, that first conversation morphed into something completely different for the novel, as a matter of fact, that first conversation had nothing to do with the book. The only thing that remains is the gazebo.

Likewise, for Violet and Ellis (THE LADY'S FATE). Their first conversation was in a flower shop, which was discarded for a river, and a boat dock.

Sometimes I'll see someone on the street, or like last year at the beach, and a full-blown character is born. I called him "Jack" and by the end of my two week stay in Narragansett, I thought I knew him inside and out. Of course, never having spoken to him, I'm sure he was nothing like the "character" I made him out to be, but he served a very singular purpose. He became the love interest for my latest leading lady.

So the next time you see someone talking to themselves in the bookstore, or writing feverishly in a coffee house, ask them if they're a writer. Who knows, it might be me.

Coming This January

2012-01-01T06:00:00.001-05:00

My latest novel in the Reluctant Grooms Series, THE DUKE'S DIVORCE, will be available in e-book format from Amazon and Smashwords at the end of January. I hope you'll look for it.

           An uncomplicated trip to the Scottish Highlands to check on his estate turns into a nightmare for Robert Carlton, the Duke of Cantin. A simple act of kindness finds him married at gunpoint to Fiona, the Laird Stewart’s daughter. Both are distraught by the turn of events, until Robert comes up with a plan – they will remain married for six months, at which time, the marriage will be annulled and Fiona will receive a generous annuity.
            Fiona’s impeccable beauty, fiery disposition, and her penchant for finding scandal wherever she goes, take Society by storm. Robert’s restrictive contract for his new duchess has Fiona rebelling at every opportunity. Living with the oppressive duke has her wanting out of their marriage sooner than the proposed six months.
            Robert is finding it difficult to keep his hands off his exquisite new bride, but that was part of the agreement. Desire and jealousy prove a powerful aphrodisiac. Robert must come to terms with his emotional upheaval as well as a long-ago betrayal, and he finally realizes she may be the woman he has been waiting for all his life.
            Convincing Fiona of his love may be the hardest thing Robert has ever had to do. He thinks he’s finally won her heart until the night of their ball when a devastating secret from his past surfaces and threatens to ruin their newfound happiness. Will the promise of an uncertain future with Robert be enough to keep Fiona from filing divorce papers of her own?

A HUSBAND FOR MISS TRENT is now available

.

When a surprising invitation arrives in the post, impoverished spinster Miss Ophelia Trent wants to turn it down. With no funds for a new gown or even slippers, she’s afraid of becoming the latest laughingstock in Society. With her mother’s gentle insistence, and a borrowed antique gown, Ophelia decides to take one last chance to find a suitable husband.

The ball to which she’s been invited is everything she could have dreamed, including a marriage proposal to the "perfect" man. However, she longs to see the stableman whose easy smile and soulful eyes have etched a mark on her lonely heart.
Should she stick with "perfect" or let her heart take a chance at finding true love?

Hope you'll look for them.

A Holiday Surprise

2011-12-23T08:13:00.000-05:00

I was recently asked to prepare a little holiday post for Sia McKye's blog "Over Coffee"

and I am honored it's up today. It features my latest heroine, Miss Ophelia Trent. And in the version for Sia, I've only allowed 1200 words to capture her spirit, and only one man to capture her heart.

In the novella, (which will be out in January) Miss Trent finds there is something to be said for waiting until you're older before you marry.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Don't Judge a Book by its Title

2011-12-05T06:52:00.045-05:00

As a reader, a good title will catch your eye. As a writer, we slave over finding the best one possible, and even then, somewhere during the process of writing, revising, editing, it will get changed.

I'm not good with titles. Never have been. As a matter of fact, some have said my titles are boring.

Titles need to convey, not only the spirit of the book, but possibly a hint to the climax as well. Take these titles, for example --

WHEN HARRY MET MOLLY Kieran Kramer
WED HIM BEFORE YOU BED HIM Sabrina Jeffries
WHEN HE WAS WICKED Julia Quinn
CONFESSIONS OF A LITTLE BLACK GOWN Elizabeth Boyle

Don't they just want to make you pick them up and read them all in one sitting?

My titles are just very basic things. They don't really stand out, they don't really "do" anything. It's like I just slapped any old title on them for the sake of having one.

THE LADY'S MASQUERADE
THE LADY'S FATE
THE DUKE'S DIVORCE
THE CAPTAIN'S LADY
THE EARL'S ENIGMA

And this wasn't because I didn't try to come up with a decent title, I did. For the longest time THE LADY'S MASQUERADE was going to be THE STEWARD AND MISS HIGGINS. But then who would want to read a book about these two people when the whole premise of the book was about masquerading as someone else, and the climax does indeed take place at a masquerade ball.

The same with THE LADY'S FATE. That title originally was FOR THE LOVE OF JANE. This did nothing exciting for the plot, or the characters because Jane is a little girl and the story revolves "around" her, but is not necessarily "about" her. Know what I mean? However, I would like to add THE LADY'S FATE is particularly ambiguous as well, but it does convey a sort of little mystery -- what is her fate?

I've also been waffling back and forth with THE DUKE'S DIVORCE these days. Divorce was hardly EVER done way back when, the social mores of the time were strict, and parties involved would rather suffer through abuse, abandonment, and monetary irresponsibility than get a divorce. Hence, the idea of THE DUKE'S DILEMMA. Same premise, less harsh reality. Then again, for those of my readers who do know the era, a divorce is surely to intrigue enough to read.

So the next time you see a book with a so-so title, don't pass it by, give it a go. You might be pleasantly surprised. Sometimes writers use up all their creativity in the writing of their books and have nothing left for the title.

At least that's what I tell myself.

Tell me -- Do you judge a book by its title?

Interpreting Heroines

2011-11-28T06:33:00.071-05:00

In last week's post, I discussed how I interpreted my heroes and what they would be like today. Interpreting my heroines is a daunting task, as women in 1810 were not allowed any freedoms that we are allowed today.

Back then, women were "kept" as possessions, sold to the highest bidder by their father. They had no rights, no assets, whatever they "owned", what little money they had, usually went to their husbands upon their marriage. Sucks right?

So let's see if I can come up with something suitable for my "girls" to "do" in today's world.

In 1810 --

Penny -- Lady Penelope Leighton, daughter of the Duke of Olmstead. Afflicted with a stutter and looking for love in marriage.

Violet -- Lady Violet Flowers. Daughter of the missing Earl of Flowers. Seventeen and making her debut.

Amanda -- Married to Barthomolew Wood. Mother to Rachel. Best friend to Penny until her father took her to seek his fortune in America.

Rosamund -- Lady Rosamund Smith. Bluestocking. Caretaker of her parents.

Fiona -- Lady Fiona Stewart. Daughter of the Earl of Fionghall. Twenty-nine and has never been kissed.

Present day --

Penny -- Shy, retiring twenty-two year old, wants to be a horse vetrinarian.

Violet -- Lives in the shadow of a beautiful older sister. Desires to work with children.

Amanda -- Jerkface husband walked out on her and took their daughter. She owns a small farm and makes do with whatever money that brings in. Someday she hopes to have enough to search for her daughter.

Rosamund -- Straight A college student, working on her doctorate in ancient history.

Fiona -- Living as a housekeeper to her brutish father. No friends, no family, has only sheep for company.

As the men don't necessarily WANT to be married, the women, too, have their own realities to face.

Penny -- Her stutter debilitates her. She believes she will never find the man of her dreams.

Violet -- With a beautiful older sister, and being on the "plump" side, also with no dowry to speak of, Violet gives up any hope of ever meeting "the one".

Amanda -- Has wrapped herself in a bubble of memories of her daughter. Stuck between a rock and a hard place waiting for her return, she can't move forward with her life.

Rosamund -- Caring for her aging parents has left her no choice but to remain unmarried.

Fiona -- Gets caught in a compromising position through no fault of her own and must marry a man she doesn't even know.

Now, don't get me wrong, these ladies do have wherewithal to fight for themselves and what they inevitably want. Sure they have to go through hell and back to get it, but to them, love is worth it. Isn't it?

Interpreting Heroes

2011-11-21T06:33:00.077-05:00

As a writer of romance, I tend to think of the men in my stories as heroes. They save the day, defeat the villain, rescue the girl. In my Regency series, however, my heroes are not the typical reformed rake, or libertine. They do not ride in, in a blaze of glory and slay the dragon. They tend to be common placed, normal, everyday members of the aristocracy. (Well, I couldn't let go of all my tendencies, could I?)

A question was posed to me awhile ago, which I thought was interesting enough to write a blog post about.

If your heroes were set in the present day, what would they be?

Interesting concept. I had to think about it. So let's break it all down and see what I come up with.

These are my heroes and what they do in 1810.

William -- The Earl of Westerly. Second son of the Duke of Chesnick. Joined the Horse Guards in 1800.

Ellis -- The Marquess of Haverlane. Oldest son of the Duke of Chesnick. Member of Parliament, has the ear of Prince George.

Robert -- The Duke of Cantin. Takes care of his family.

Richard -- Retired Captain in the Royal Navy. Captured Bonaparte the first time.

Rory -- The Earl of Bailey. Studies ancient Peloponnsian text.

So, if I transferred them to the present day, here's what I think they would do.

William -- Texas Ranger.

Ellis -- Vice-president.

Robert -- CEO of the family shipping line.

Richard -- Navy Seal.

Rory -- College professor.

Now, naturally, what is not seen in all these descriptions are the underlying causes which make them the perfect man for them to NOT fall in love, hence become Reluctant Grooms.

William -- Dealing with PTSD.

Ellis -- A widower with a two year old who is still in love with his dead wife.

Robert -- Burned by an ex-fiance.

Richard -- Never stayed in one place long enough to find the right woman.

Rory -- Conceited, vain, highly intelligent and looks down his nose upon those not in his social circle.

Thinking of these men in present day has allowed me a broader scope in how I want to write about them. People are people, whether in 1810 or 2010. They all have the same hopes, dreams, ties that bind, and experiences that break. This was an interesting exercise. As writers, we're told to stretch our imaginations, cast the net as widely as possible. How'd I do?

Aristocratic Rank and File

2011-11-14T06:03:00.039-05:00

The most frequest question I've been asked is why I write English Regency romance when I'm an American. It's simple. I love the class structure of the British aristocracy. Dukes and Earls and Viscounts, oh my. I'd like to think I was a Countess in a former life. LOL. (And I know it wasn't all sunshine and lollipops for the lesser classes, but in my world they all had good jobs and decent homes and no one died from disease or starvation.)

For those of you who'd like a primer in that world, here's a little info that may help you, in either reading, or writing it. Let's start at the top, shall we.

King & Queen -- They are the reigning Monarchs. They rule the country. You would address them as Your Majesty.

Prince & Princess -- Children and grandchildren of the King and Queen. You would address them as Your Highness, or, Your Grace.

Duke -- Their wives were known as Duchess. Created in 1337. These were the people who were next in line to the throne after the Prince and Princess. Their family line could be traced to the reigning Monarch. You would address only the duke as Your Grace. You address the duchess as Your Ladyship, or my lady. During the Low and Middle Ages the Monarch would give their kinsmen land surrounding the castle. More land was gained by marrying into it. Their title would be the name of the county of which their principal holding sat, ie. Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Devonshire, etc. They all held a seat in the House of Lords in Parliament.

Marquess -- (pronounced Mar-Kwess) Their wives were known as Marchioness (pronounced Mar-Ki-o-ness or Mar-Key-o-ness) Created in 1385. These titles were created when England usurped Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Members of these aristocracies in their own country weren't in line to the throne so they couldn't become Dukes. They became Marquess instead, which is why there aren't a lot of them. You would adress them as -- my lord, my lady. They also hold a seat in the House of Lords.

Earl -- Their wives were known as Countess. Created in the 800's. You would address them as -- my lord, my lady. They were the chief royal representative in the shires (counties). Their name was usually from their place, Earl of Cory, but later, they could also use their surname if they held no land, Earl Gray. (Yes, there actually was an Earl Gray.)

Viscount -- (pronounced Vi-count) Their wives were known as Viscountess. Created 1440. Originally a Viscount was the sheriff of the shire and reported to the Earl. They mainly used their surname in their title, Viscount Hadley. They were addressed as -- my lord, my lady.

Baron -- The least of the nobility. Their wives, of course, were Baroness. Created 1066. This title was usually applied to the chief tenants of the Earl, and their land had been granted to them by the Monarch. I'm not really sure how you would address them. I think - Sir - possibly - my lord. I don't really know a whole lot about Barons.

Baronet-- Created in 1611. This is a special hereditary rank. If you remember, in Jane Austen's PERSUASION, Anne Elliot's father is a Baronet. I know you address them as Sir.

Knight -- Are NOT members of the aristocracy. They are addressed as Sir or Madam. It is an Honorary title. Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Joan Plowright.

You could have as many, or as few titles, as you had ancestors. You would sometimes also lose a title if you gained another one. Say you were a Marquess and your father the Duke died, you would become the Duke. Now if you had a son, he would become the Marquess. If you didn't have an heir, you could then give the lesser title to the presumptive heir.

If you died without issue (male children) the Monarchy could usurp your title back into its fold, taking with it all land and monies you had. It would either keep it, or reissue it to someone else as was its wont.

You could also gain a title by doing some great heroic endeavor, ie. Admiral, Lord Nelson. He was just plain old Horatio Nelson when he joined the Royal Navy. After his action at Cadiz he was given the title of 1st Viscount. (He was also the Duke of Bronte but that was given to him by the King of Spain. Also, because he died without issue, his Viscountancy was taken back by the King of England, and there has never been another. However, there was a special provision for his Baronetcy that was given to his brother after his death.)

This is the list of Nelson's titles that was read at his state funeral.

The Most Noble Lord Horatio Nelson, Viscount and Baron Nelson, of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe in the County of Norfolk, Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Hilborough in the said County, Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Vice Admiral of the White Squadron of the Fleet, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels in the Mediterranean, Duke of Bronte in Sicily, Knight Grand Cross of the Sicilian Order of St Ferdinand and of Merit, Member of the Ottoman Order of the Crescent, Knight Grand Commander of the Order of St. Joachim.

And there you have my take on the aristocracy. Now, by all means this is not a comprehensive list or definition. This is just a cursory glance at what I've learned. Believe me, I have scads of notes and web-sites that could explain it a whole lot better. And I'll spare you from discussing "precedence". It's a nightmare.

Smashwords

2011-11-07T07:26:00.019-05:00

I just wanted to let you all know that THE LADY'S FATE, is now available on Smashwords.

If I've learned nothing else from this experience of self-publishing it's how to format for every single type of e-reader available. With the time change, I was up at the ungodly hour of 4 am, and with nothing to do, I decided to try and upload to Smashwords. Which I did, but it kept bouncing back to me saying that my file was too big. So I had to "strip it". Which means, I had to take out ALL the formatting.

ALL the formatting. And then reformat the entire document. It took me all day Sunday. 4 am to 4 pm. I kid you not. 12 hours. I had to learn a bunch of new techniques and then re-upload the document. But by 6 pm it was "pending" with no glitches. So I was a happy girl when I went to bed last night.

Hah! And I though the learning curve for the Kindle was hard. That was a cake walk compared to yesterday.

But now I know how to do it. And yes, I am very proud of myself. I never, ever thought in a zillion years, that I would ever know how to do things with a computer that would end up becoming a book. A published book at that.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

My Series

2011-10-31T06:00:00.045-04:00

Good Morning. As a writer, we've all wondered when we finish the first book if we have "enough" to turn it into a series. As soon as I found Penny and William (from THE LADY'S MASQUERADE) I wanted to do one. I had a broad scheme and fleshed out the story lines from the other three books I was going to write. (Back then it was only three.)

However, I found doing research one day, my storylines were not going to work. The months I had planned to use in my storyline for the THE CAPTAIN'S LADY and THE LADY'S FATE were all wrong. Parliament was not in session, and that played a key role in how my men were going to be in London. So I had to scrap the idea and come up with another plan.

There was also the problem of the Prince Regent. His ascendency to the throne did not take place until February 1811. Also, his sister, Princess Amelia passed away in November of 1810, which also played a part because the country went into national mourning.

Hmm...what was a writer to do? So I decided that I would do what I like to call, a "wrap-around" or "over-lap" series. All my books overlap each other, and wrap around. The characters, the plots, and storylines mesh and blend, so all the stories intertwine.

To break it all down in simpler terms.

THE LADY'S MASQUERADE March 1810 -- September 1811
THE LADY'S FATE                    May 1810 -- June 1811
THE CAPTAIN'S LADY            September 1810 -- February 1811
THE DUKE'S DIVORCE            March 1811 -- July 1811
THE EARL'S ENIGMA               June 1811 -- October 1811

This overlap solved several problems at once; allowed me to combine characters and storylines from one book into another, kept me from having to do uncessary research (and therefore allowed me to write more), and kept all the characters fresh in my mind. They're all friends and friends lives do tend to overlap.

Tell me, have you ever read a series such as this -- when all the books continue during the same time frame.

Internet Indie Book Fair Blogfest

2011-10-25T06:07:00.036-04:00

Good morning. I'm so glad you could make it to the Internet Book Fair Blogfest. Thank you to M.A. Leslie for hosting. This is such a spectacular idea, and I'm so glad to be a part of it.

On my side bar you will see the covers for the two books I have on sale now at Amazon in Kindle.

Here is a little information on THE LADY'S FATE. (Available for $2.99)

Lady Violet Flowers has only one Season to find a husband. Raised in the Queen’s household, Violet is elevated in rank, yet overlooked by society for having no dowry. Violet is petrified she’ll bring disgrace to her mother’s name in not making a good match, if any.

The widowed Marquess of Haverlane needs to find the perfect nanny for his beloved daughter, Jane. Fortunate for Haverlane, when the very plump, but very pretty Lady Violet rescues Jane from almost drowning, the solution to his problem stands before him. Ensconced at his country estate, Haverlane and Violet’s only means of communication is through correspondence, which leads to an amiable affection.

Unwilling to think of Violet as more than a nanny, a surprising Christmas kiss compels Haverlane to look at her in a whole new light, and she at him. However, Parliamentary demands made upon his time keep them both a safe distance from temptation.

As the Season begins, an old flame emerges from Haverlane’s past and attempts to rekindle that fire. Violet is bereft and knows things cannot remain as they are. She accepts an offer for her hand, even though Haverlane is the only one she wants. By the time Haverlane realizes Violet is the woman he has been waiting for, not only for himself, but for his daughter as well, it may be too late. Haverlane must now do what Violet has dreaded most – bring scandal to her mother’s house to try to win her back.
*******

Here's a review from Amazon --

I felt like I was reading one of the classics. Gallagher has done her research and The Lady's fate reads just as if it were written back in Austen's day. But she gives us a new set of characters to examine, and even though they're playing by the same set of Regency rules, the plot takes fresh, unpredictable turns.

The relationship between Violet and Haverlane takes time to develop, but their electricity is immediate, even before things get physical. Patience is rewarded with some of the steamiest kisses I've ever read---you know, the kind where you go back to read them again...and again, just to make sure you didn't miss anything. I think the attraction's even more intriguing because up until the very end, it's unclear if/how it can progress.

The characters are all well-defined and interesting, even those who are infuriating. My favorite is Lady Olivia in all her obstinate, noble, cane-thumping glory. I finished this book knowing I'd like to spend more time with them, so I look forward to more from this author---particularly in the "Reluctant Grooms" series.
******

Second Review for The Lady's Fate from Amazon --

From the Jane Austen-esque prose to the twisting and turning plot, The Lady's Fate is a charming and engaging romance. Gallagher knows how to take a trope and give it a unique slant, building tension and longing that make Haverlane and Violet's story hard to put down. Through the ups and downs of their blossoming relationship, Gallagher keeps us guessing until the end. A delightful read for Regency Romance lovers!

And the blurb for A WIFE FOR WINSBARREN (which is a short story available for $.99) is on my sidebar, along with descriptions of my forthcoming books. If you'd like a sneak peek at my first pages, they are under my header.

For a little more from THE DUKE'S DIVORCE, scroll down to yesterday as I have just posted an excerpt from Chapter Five.

Thank you all so much for stopping by today. Have a great time at the Book Fair.

Excerpt -- The Duke's Divorce

2011-10-24T08:00:00.031-04:00

From Chapter Five

Fiona’s outing with Lady Penny had been an eye-opening experience. Having made her own clothes for years, being fitted for a silk gown was an extraordinary pleasure, one she would never get over. The silk shimmered over her skin and she felt like a princess looking in the mirror. Madame Rochelle clucked and fussed with the pins. Taking in the deep burgundy had been a challenge, for Fiona’s waist was so small, yet her legs were long and slender. A nip here, a tuck there, the gown was perfect, although according to the modiste, it did not hang as well as it ought.
Penny giggled when she saw Fiona emerge from the dressing room wearing a deep blue sapphire afternoon gown. “Robert will hardly recognize you.”

Fiona hardly recognized herself.

After Madame Rochelle’s, they descended upon a milliner where Fiona purchased two hats, a cobbler who sold her a lovely pair of deep blue dancing slippers and took measurements for half boots and two more pair of slippers, and another dressmaker shop where she bought a ready made cape in deep blue velvet.

Fiona was famished by the time she arrived back at St. Martin Street. She felt foolish standing at the front door, but didn’t know whether to knock or walk in. Edwards opened the door before she could raise her hand.

“Yes,” he said. Clearly, he did not recognize her.

“Mr. Edwards, we met this morning,” Fiona said. “I am the Duke of Cantin’s new wife.”

Edwards blanched as he stepped back into the foyer, opening the door wide. “Forgive me, my lady. I did not realize it was you.”

Fiona smiled at him. “Truthfully, Mr. Edwards, when I first saw myself at the modiste, I did not recognize myself either.”

Edwards bowed and helped her off with her new cape, and waited for her gloves.

“Tell me, has luncheon been served?” she asked the butler. “I must confess I did not realize shopping would leave me completely famished.”

“Lady Cantin is in the dining room now if you would like to join her.”

She looked down the long corridor having no idea where the dining room was.

Edwards said, “If you would like to follow me, my lady.”

She smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Edwards. That is very kind of you.”

When she entered the dining room, she found Robert’s mother dining alone at a long formally set table. Not knowing where to sit, she stood, unsure of her place.

Lady Joanna looked her up and down. Fiona could tell the woman had no idea who she was.

“Forgive me, Lady Cantin. I have no wish to disturb you. Mr. Edwards said you were finishing your luncheon and having just arrived from my outing with Lady Penny, I thought to join you if I may.

“Fiona, dearest,” Lady Joanna said with a tone that could not hide her surprise, “is it really you? That gown has simply changed your entire countenance. I’m so glad you are back,” his mother said. “You must be famished, yes? Come, come sit down, and lunch with me. Tell me all about your trip to the modiste. I’m glad we have this time alone, I long to get to know you better.”

Fiona wasn’t sure who was more nervous, the duchess or herself. She crossed to the front of the room and took a seat to the left of her new mother-in-law. A footman brought her a bowl of soup. Fiona stared at all the utensils on either side of the place setting. In Scotland, her father and she ate at the wooden plank table in the kitchen with one fork, knife, and spoon. Here, there were a dozen spread out in front of her, not to mention the various glasses and small plates surrounding the entire sphere of where she sat.

She looked at Lady Joanna, who placed her finger on the third spoon to her right.

“Now, tell me dearest,” the duchess said. "Did you find everything at Madam Rochelle’s? That gown certainly becomes you. Did Penny help you choose the color? She has such amazing taste. I hope you did not choose all your outfits from her, because my modiste would love to create something for you.”

Fiona ate her soup while her mother-in-law talked. And talked, and talked. Fiona was grateful the older woman did not wait for her to answer any of the questions she posed. She was also glad she didn’t ask any questions about her and Robert. She had no idea how she would answer.

*****

They finished with luncheon, and Robert’s mother introduced her to the servants. She was appointed a lady’s maid from one of the upstairs maids for the time being. The girl, Merry, was thrilled with the prospect.
Lady Cantin took her for a tour around the mansion, and then showed her to her rooms.

“I know what an exhausting day you have had, my dear. You should rest, perhaps sleep. I’m sure Robert will not be back until dinner, which is at seven o’clock. We will not be so formal this evening, so whichever frock you choose to wear will be fine. Merry will be there to help you, she is a good girl, and will answer any questions you may have.” Her mother-in-law kissed her cheek. “I shall see you at dinner then.”

Merry waited for her in her room.

“Her ladyship said you wished to rest. I shall help you off with your gown, " the young girl said. "Shall I brush out your hair as well?”

“Brush out my hair?” Fiona could not believe what she was asking.

“Yes, of course, my lady. You do not wish to sleep with it coiled, do you? Before you dress for dinner, I can do it up for you in whichever manner you wish. I have been told I’m very good with hair.” The girl seemed to know more about living in high society than she did.

“Yes, of course. That would be lovely.”

Fiona let Merry take over. She said nothing as the girl took off her gown, and then brushed her hair. Climbing into the huge bed with the pretty, yellow coverlet, Fiona hadn’t realized how exhausted she was. It overcame her quickly and before Merry had finished hanging up her gown, Fiona was asleep.

*****

“Lady Fiona? Lady Fiona? Would you like to get up now?”

Fiona heard someone calling to her. She opened her eyes. It took three seconds before she realized where she was. Surprised, she sat up in bed.

“I took the liberty of bringing you a cup of hot chocolate." Merry placed a tray on the table beside her bed. "It always helps me when I need to wake. I hope you do not mind.”

Fiona took the cup. She smelled its delicious aroma and took a tentative sip. It was heavenly.
“What did you say this was?”

Merry looked at her, surprised. “Hot chocolate, my lady. Have you never had it before?”

“No, I cannot say I have.”

“Well, if you’d like, I can bring you a cup every morning when you wake, if that is agreeable to you.”

“Yes, by all means. That is very agreeable, thank you.”

“Have you decided what gown you’d like to wear to dinner this evening?” Merry asked, heading for the dressing room.

“The dark purple I think,” Fiona said. She wanted to look nice for Cantin on her first night in his house.
‘Twas the least she could do considering he had allowed her to buy the gowns in the first place.

Merry helped her with the gown, and then did her hair in a lovely up-style with ringlets cascading down her back. She stood in front of the cheval glass gaping open-mouthed at the sight before her eyes.

“Is that really me?” she asked the maid.

“Yes, my lady. And may I say you look very beautiful this evening.”

Fiona smiled at her new companion. “Thank you so much for all your help, Merry. I think you and I will rub along nicely together.”

Fiona glanced at the little ormolu clock on her dressing table. She had plenty of time before dinner, but no desire to wait in her room. Perhaps Lady Cantin would be somewhere downstairs.

Fiona descended the staircase at the front of the house and found Edwards in the hall.

“Mr. Edwards, could you tell me if Lady Cantin is downstairs yet?”

“She is with his Grace in the green parlour, Lady Fiona. If you would follow me.”

Fiona tempered her nerves and followed the butler to the doors of the green parlour. She swallowed tightly as he opened the door for her. “Lady Fiona,” he said, and bowed out of her way.

Fiona walked into the room and found Lady Cantin smiling at her. Cantin stood near the mantle, a strange expression on his face.

“Fiona, how beautiful you look this evening," Lady Joanna said. "And your hair is lovely. I knew Merry would be a perfect match with you.” She turned to her son. “Robert, does not Fiona look enchanting this evening?”

Fiona waited for him to say something. He did not. Perhaps he did not like the new gown, or her hair this way. Well, she was sorry to disappoint him, but not knowing any better, she had no idea how she was supposed to look.

“Robert, I say, does not Fiona look enchanting this evening?” his mother asked again.

Robert stared at her as if seeing her for the very first time. “Yes, very lovely, Mother,” he choked out.

Thank You All

2011-10-19T10:08:00.021-04:00

I can't thank you all enough for stopping by during the last few days and sharing your good wishes. As most of you know, this enterprise was fraught with scads of computer mishaps, late nights, and headaches. But now, as this site is up and running, I feel all the stress was worth it.

I haven't really gotten a feel for my posting schedule yet, I'm thinking once a week, perhaps on Monday, perhaps bi-monthly. I'm not entirely sure.

However, I should say, this blog/website will be more for my readers, than my writer friends. Mainly I will be posting excerpts from my novels as I'm working on them, book reviews of genre romance, and research tidbits that I find along the way.

I do hope, if you know anyone who is interested in Regency romance, that you'll tell them about this blog. Word of mouth is important to any writer.

Thanks again, so much, for making my new author website/blog the success it was!

Welcome to My Brand New Blog

2011-10-17T06:00:00.132-04:00

Welcome, welcome, come in, look around. I know there's so much to see. I hope you enjoy it. Have a glass of champagne, there's tea and lemonade as well, if you prefer, have a little gnosh, take your time, browse.

I want to thank you all so much for coming. This really means the world to me. It's such a great feeling to share this will all of you, my friends, who've come to mean so much to me over the last few years.

We're here today, not only to celebrate the opening of my brand new author blog, but to celebrate the fact that I am now an author. Yes, finally, after going the ropes in New York and finding no success, I decided to take my writing life into my own hands and self-publish my titles to Kindle. As most of you know, it was a really tough decision, but one I knew was the right one to make. I love my books almost as much as I love The Monster, and want to share them with the world.

This enterprise was fraught with great difficulty, as I am not even remotely computer literate, so I would like to publicly thank my mentor in all things formatting -- J. Bridget Chicoine. Without her help, I would still be a sniveling, groveling mess. Also, the several ladies who read my manuscripts and gave me the critiques I needed -- Lois Moss, Francine Howarth, Liza Salerno, Bridget Chicoine, and Bev Nickelson. Thanks ladies, I owe you two!

For those of you who don't know much about my writing, these are Regency romances. And I stress the romance. None of my work contains sex scenes, although I've been told my way around a lip-lock is really hot. I wanted these to be something you could recommend to your Aunt Helen, your mother-in-law, and not worry if your tween-age daughter picked it up. However, as they are for adults, I do use some adult themes. People are people, whether from 1810 or 2010, and I like to write what drives us emotionally when we're on the path to finding love.

And now, without further ado, I give you --

A short story I just had to write. It's available for $.99 on Amazon.

And my long awaited release

Now available on Amazon for $2.99.

If you'll scroll down the blog, you'll be able to find pictures of my characters, actors who I think would be fabulous to portray them. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Sometimes, I think a picture is worth more than a thousand words.

On my sidebar, you'll also note, I have two more titles coming soon, hopefully before Christmas. And on the top under my header, you'll be able to read the sneak peeks into the books.

So take a gander, look around, enjoy, read, drool over "The Reluctant Grooms" and the women who love them. I believe I have represented both genders equally. (Truth to tell, I used to be in love with Haverlane. Now I think Winsbarren has more than captured my heart.)

Please let me know what you think of my new site. Feel free to share in the comments. I'll be around all day. And thanks again, so much for coming.

And if you'd like to leave your email address in the comments, I will send you a version of A WIFE FOR WINSBARREN for your very own. I've been told I can send my Kindle for PC version to you to download. My way of saying thanks for stopping by.

The Lady's Fate Characters

2011-02-09T15:36:00.010-05:00

As writers, we are so enmeshed in our characters we know exactly who they are and what they look like. And sometimes, we stumble across people who we think would be perfect to play the part. These are my choices for whom I would like to be my characters. Tell me what you think.

These are Haverlane's parents, the Duke and Duchess of Chesnick.

This is Manning, Haverlane's butler.

This is Mrs. Jeffers, the housekeeper at Fairhaven.

This is Violet's mother, Countess Flowers.

Lady Olivia, Duchess of Caymore.

This is Reverend Andrew Perry.


                                This is Camelia, Violet's younger sister.

The Prince Regent.

Lady Georgiana Baxter.

This is Ellis, Marquess of Haverlane.

And this is Violet.

A Wife for Winsbarren Characters

2010-10-24T07:59:00.021-04:00

Not a whole bunch of characters, but worth it to find some pics nonetheless.

This is Lady Penny.

This is Madame Beaumond.

                                                                     Winsbarren's Da, The Eighth Earl Brumbley.

Rowena. Found the perfect girl.

Winsbarren. Isn't he just divine?

What do you think?

The Lady's Masquerade Characters

2010-10-19T17:19:00.006-04:00

These are the characters from The Lady's Masquerade. Where the series "The Reluctant Grooms" first began.

This is Quiggins, the venerable butler at Wakefield.

This is the formidable, Lady Olivia, Duchess of Caymore.

These are Penny's parents, the Duke and Duchess of Olmstead, Charles and Honoria.

This is Robert, the Duke of Cantin, cousin to Ellis and William, and William's best friend.

This is Captain Richard Gaines, another friend of William's.

This is Ellis, Marquess of Haverlane, and William's older brother.

This is William, Earl of Westerly.

And this is Penny, Lady Penelope Leighton.

The Duke's Divorce

2010-10-17T08:53:00.003-04:00

This is still a work in progress and more pictures will be forthcoming. But for now...

This is Edwards, Robert's butler.

This is Lady Joanna, Robert's mother.

Lord Greenleigh, Earl Culpepper

This is Fiona.

This is Robert.

The Earl's Enquiry

2010-09-16T12:14:00.014-04:00

This book is also a work in progress but here is my so-called cast of characters thus far.

Lady Olivia, Duchess of Caymore, figures prominently.

This is Lady Rosamund Mary Smith. She is a scholarly woman and has no time for the trivialness of men.

This is Gregory Francis Scott, 6th Earl of Bailey.

Here We Are -- Welcome

2010-09-15T12:06:00.001-04:00

Welcome to my brand new blog. I've finally bitten the bullet and decided to self-publish my Regency romances on Amazon through Kindle, and of course, I needed a blog to keep all my gentle readers up to date with what I'm doing.

I've been working on it steadily and I hope you like all the added features. Across the top I've given you the first pages of the stories that are written, and also those that are in progress. For those of you who would like to write Regencies, I will also be adding more to my Regency Links in the side bar.

I'll also be doing book reviews on Regency romances, some old, some new, some forgotten. I'll try to post something at least once a month.

So, come by often and leave a comment.
Happy Reading!