Some of you may recall when, last April, I was noodling a new story idea and posted a few paintings for you to choose between for my Regency heroine. We decided on this oh-so-breathtaking work by Frank Dicksee, his interpretation of Miranda from The Tempest.
Well, I’m stealing her. 😉 She fits even better my image of Gwyneth Fairchild, you see, and since I know I do in fact have to write Gwyneth’s story, but Arabelle’s is on the “maybe someday” list . . .
So allow me to introduce Gwyneth. Born and raised in England, she has spent most of her days in fashionable Hanover Square, London. Her grandfather is a duke, her father said duke’s third son, who has risen to the rank of general in the military. Bloodlines–impeccable. Dowry–sizable. Looks–beyond compare.
And so she is the perfect Regency miss. All things lovely and demure and witty, with a remarkable hand at drawing and painting to boot. At the opening of her story (the second book in my Culper Ring Series from Harvest House, which will come out in June of 2013), Gwyneth is in the midst of her first season, which was put off for a year because her mother fell gravely ill and passed away the season prior. Gwyn and her father clung to each other to get through the terrible loss of sweet Mama, and she finds some solace now in throwing herself into the social whirl that her matron had spent a lifetime preparing her for.
Which has obviously been worthwhile, for Sir Arthur Hart, Knight of the Order of St. Patrick and presumed heir to a marquessate, is surely going to propose soon.
There is only one problem. Her father, who is without doubt one of the best men in all England, who she adores and trusts implicitly, has told her she must leave. Leave London. Leave England. And go, of all places, to a country with whom they’re at war. And not even France, where at least they’re civilized, but to America. Maryland. To a family she met only once, when she was too young to remember.
Much as she wants to argue, especially when Sir Arthur does indeed intercept her before she can climb in her carriage and offer his hand in marriage, she can’t. Because minutes later she witnesses a crime that proves her life really is in danger–and that there’s nothing left for her here.
And so our little sparrow flies away, with only her pencils and paints with which to express the turmoil inside her, turmoil hidden within the paintings people would expect. And with a letter in hand meant to assure her safe delivery to Baltimore, even if she is set upon by American pirates.
Enter, of course, one dashing American privateer . . . 😉
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
I am super excited about these books!! I can hardly wait for them to come out. June 2013 is too far away. But, I suppose I have to wait, unfortunately.
Now, now, Naomi, Phin and the rest of the crew of the Sumter would be quick to tell you that it's their honor to inform you that you're mistaken, ma'am. They're not privateers (and you had better never call them pirates!) they are a duly commissioned cruiser of the Confederate States of America. 😉
And this current privateer has a twist too, in that he's less a privateer than a friend to privateers.
I'm very nearly finished Laurie Alice's latest too and loving it–though it makes me bemoan ever having the verbiage down as well as she and MaryLu do! My focus will be very different, but still. Got lotsa research to do!
Well, given that I've only written a chapter . . . yeah, you gotta wait, LOL.
Me too, Christina! 😉
Oh goodness. This sounds super fun. Love the privateer spin in Laurie Alice Eakes newest novel. And by the way, don't you have a privateer coming in a Summerside novel? Well, those privateers sure were something, weren't they? I think even Rhett Butler was a privateer, and he's the epitome of a romance hero.
Oooh – can't wait! (But gotta – I know!)
Thanks for the picture and preview-sounds exciting! I'm really looking forward to this series!