Here’s the description of the furniture from the original web site:

“This collection of furniture was made by the famous furniture-makers, Gillows of London and Lancaster and was commissioned by John Lloyd Wynne of Coed Coch, Betws yn Rhos, Denbighshire in the early nineteenth century. Between 1806-07 there is a record in John Lloyd Wynne’s account book of payments amounting to some £2,000 to Gillows for furniture and furnishings as well as payment for delivery from ‘Lancaster to Conway ferry’ in March 1807. The furniture consists of a large mahogany double breakfront secretaire-bookcase, a set of library steps, a pair of Grecian sofas and a couple of armchairs. The sofas, bookcase and steps are all illustrated with costs in the Gillows’ Estimate Sketch Books preserved at Westminster Library. It is known that Gillows also provided furniture to many other mansion houses in north-east Wales between 1780-1830, making this collection of great significance in representing the fashionable tastes of the Welsh gentry during this period.”

I have several scenes in my current work in progress that take place in a nobleman’s library/study, so I was thrilled to find this reference.

Mrs. Hobson set her glass back upon the tray. “I’ll have Miss Geoffries’ things moved to the Green Room.”

“Have cook send up a tray as well,” the duke said. “My fiancée,” he emphasized the word slightly, “has had a long journey and must be tired and hungry.”

Lavinia was surprised at this bit of kindness. After his earlier ruthlessness, it seemed out of character. But now that he’d gotten what he’d wanted, why shouldn’t he be kind, she thought bitterly.

As I wrote, “fiancée” I had a nagging feeling that the word probably wasn’t right for the era.

But how do you check without having to do an exhaustive amount of research?

The answer is simple: Pull out your dictionary and look it up. In addition to the word’s meanings, many dictionaries also include it’s origin.

I use www.dictionary.com for all my word lookups, because I’m always online while I’m writing. I like dictionary.com because lists several different definitions from a variety of sources. Here’s what it says about fiancée:

fiancee
1853, from Fr. fianceé, fem. of fiancé, pp. of fiancer “betrothed,” from O.Fr. fiancer, from fiance “a promise, trust,” from fier “to trust,” from V.L. *fidare (see affiance). Has all but expelled native betrothed. The verb fiance, now obsolete, was used c.1450-1600 for “to engage to be married.”
— Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper

So for now, I’ve replaced “fiancée” with “betrothed.” Although I’ll be revising this passage again before the book is finished, for now I’m happy that word is correct for the period.

Useful Links:

Dictionary.com
Online Etymology Dictionary
Regency Lexicon

Stephanie Plum Series 3-5

However, I’ve been pretty depressed about it. The house feels so empty without her. I knew the weekend would be rough, so last week I stocked up on a bunch of library books to get me through.

I don’t just read Regencies. I love all genres. So, when I wasn’t taking care of my son and spending time with my husband, I mentally hibernated with Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books. I’d only read the first two, which I loved, and I’ve been meaning to catch up on the series for years. Evanovich’s humor was just what I needed to get my mind off sad things. I devoured “Three to Get Deadly,” “Four to Score,” and “High Five” in two days.

I want to finish the rest of the Plum books, but I have a new Georgette Heyer book, “Frederica” and a Mary Balogh book sitting on my night table. I plan on reviewing both books for the blog here, so stay tuned.

Book Review:

“Cotillion” by Georgette Heyer

Grade: A

I love Regency Romance novels, as you can guess by this blog. And since I read a million of them, I thought it would be worthwhile to record my reviews of each Regency I read. I hope that others may find these reviews useful.

I’m going to start off by reviewing Cotilliona book by historical author, Gorgette Heyer, who pretty much launched the Regency romance sub-genre. Inspired by Jane Austin, Heyer’s Regency novels were witty, had rich plot lines, and were filled with tons of accurate details of Regency life — from the slang they used when they spoke, to the minute details of a lady’s dress. “Cotillion” embodied all of the best about Georgette Heyer. Wit definitely abounded.

The book begins when cantankerous old Mr. Penicuik summons his great-nephews to his manor house and informs them that he will leave his entire fortune to his adopted daughter, Kitty — providing, that is, that she agrees to marry one of them. Her choices? An Irish Earl who has a limited intellect and who has a dragon for a mother; a handsome but prissy Reverend; a young dandy; and a dashing Corinthian who Kitty’s nursed a not-so-secret crush on her whole life.

For most of the book I had a smile on my face. Heyer’s heroine, Kitty, was kind-hearted but full of spunk. I was rooting for her the whole way. By the end I was literally grinning from ear to ear. But what made “Cotillion” stand out for me was the hero, Freddy.

I normally love dark, brooding heroes, and Freddy is just the opposite. He’s a “pink of pinks,” a man of exquisite taste, a leader of fashion and a sunny nature. He isn’t especially smart, or sexy, or daring. But he is strong in his own way. His talents (perfect address, instinctive knowledge of manners, and a sublimely practical mind) are what save the day in the end. And this is what makes “Cotillion” so great. Heyer’s hero is one you don’t find in most romances out there. In modern stories, Freddy would probably be written in as the faithful sidekick. Through the book, Freddy grows, surprising his parents, his cousins, Kitty and himself. But he surprised me most of all.

Click here to get your own copy of Cotillion.

This blog is written and maintained by Regency Romance fan Karyn Lewis. I’m a freelance artist, and in my spare time, I dabble in writing Regency Romance novels of my own.

This blog will include book reviews, links to my favorite Regencies and authors, and be a repository of Regency links and information I gather as I research my own writing.

I hope that Regency fans will enjoy my blog, and that it will help introduce new readers to this wonderful romance genre!