A Regency Timeline 1795 Revisited and a new Regency Novel-The Heir
The Regency Timeline
My previous posts I’ve explained that I was working on the Regency timeline. I posted my entries for 1788 thru 1798.
Now I have the 1795 Timeline again. I went back added a significant amount of graphics. I will be doing this with all the years I previously posted and then ensuring that the new years have a lot of graphics as well.
I have uploaded all these years to the Regency Assembly Press website. You can see a little preview of this below in the picture. I especially like how the Duchess of Alba by Goya looks a lot like Cher.
My sources which include the Internet and The Timetables of History by Grun and Stein
as well as the Chronology of CULTURE y Paxton and Fairfield should cover a lot of events. There are now over 5000 listed for the period between 1788 and 1837 when Victoria comes to the Throne. I have also just found a third book I own with timelines in it, very USA centric though. 
What Happened When by Carruth. I also have added a Dorling Kindersley book 
, History of the World.
I may post a year at time every so often in between scanning through all these to find something that will be a good article for this blog and the blog at English Historical Fiction Authors. I will also have the full listing up shortly at Regency Assembly Press.
Those who have feedback, it is appreciated or if someone would like a specific year in a future post. The very first entry is to show who was Prime Minister of Great Britain, later it was the United Kingdom, during the period of the chronology. In choosing our dates, 1788 is the first sign of madness in George the III, it is the beginning of the end of the French Monarchy with the riots in Paris, it is the time when the mama’s of the girls during the true Regency would be girls going to London for their own season, and when our heroes are young lads or babes as well.
We need to know of the events that occurred when they were children, as well as what happens when they are on stage in our stories.
Click on the link below or the picture to go to the entry. More years coming. The list is now over 5000 event entries long and growing.
After the Regency Timeline, I plan to do a short addition on Regency Prime Ministers. They always come up in my research and I think we need a page where we can find out all about them in one place. Then, the Edwardian Timeline. I am thinking the years 1890 to 1918 (The end of WWI)
Regency Assembly Press 1795 Timeline
The Writing LIfe
My new writing project finishs today. It is another regency, tentatively titled The Heir. I am now over 300 pages into it. The heroine of course can not stand the hero, who is trying to understand why she dislikes him so. Part of the action takes place in St. James Square, where I have located our Heroine’s home. That was written about, in a blog post from fellow writer Angelyn Schmid on her post about Let’s do Business in Bed.
I enclose a few more paragraphs from the first draft.
Chapter 3
Sebastian was not surprised to receive his first yearly summons to see the Earl. And once again at Westminster Palace. His sisters were to come the day before, and then on Friday, he would visit with his cousin. The summons was never something that he could respond with a polite no. At least Sebastian did not feel he should since the man supported him. The Earl also did ask how his family fared and would question him about it, seeing if there were any instructions that he should issue.
That meant that would the Earl need to send money for James Mess bill, or for Hank to outfit his stores aboard ship, then Sebastian must mention it, the Earl say that it was a small matter and all that Sebastian need do is make some instruction to the bankers. It meant writing a note to both banker and the Earl that the Earl could then forward his approval to the bankers. A convoluted way to secure monies, but it was how the Earl worked since he did not visit his bankers. They visited the Earl.
Sebastian put that from his mind, for he had not seen his Sisters but briefly when the Season had ended the prior year. He had journeyed to his aunt’s house near Southampton. There he found them, as always, living quite happily. He was not sure that the change from a small country village to that of London was something that they were going to be ready for. Yet the Earl had hired tutors that were supposed to prepare them for such. Women who had claims to society, unlike Countess Elizabeth, a woman who had been hired by the Earl’s first wife and the education of cousin Annabella put in her trust.
“Sebastian, do you not come to the hall to greet us?” He heard a voice from the foyer of the house. He moved as quick as he could from the desk where he had been reading the contracts for new lands to be added to his holdings in Kent. He and Marlowe had been very lucky at the tables three nights before and the money in his accounts were ready to be put to use again. Very lucky indeed. Marlowe said that if he was not a fool, his allowance had been made for the year and it was till but February.
“Here Samantha,” he said as he reached the landing and then looked down to the ground floor. “And Samantha you must not speak so loudly. I am sure, but a lady does not yell so.”
Jennifer, who was removing her bonnet, said, “That was not a yell brother, I assure you. Our little sister is quite capable of yelling.”
“Where is Lady Margaret, I am sure that I wish to greet her as well.”
Jennifer smiled, now working on removing her gloves a finger at a time while Samantha was examining every part of the hall. “Our aunt has gone ahead to her home. She has professed her love for us, but her joints, in getting in and out of the carriage, climbing the steps and then returning to her carriage, all would have been a great deal of work.” Jennifer said.
Sebastian reached the ground floor and then guided his sisters into the day room. “Here, we shall have tea, and some treats. This is of course now your home. But I am concerned that Lady Margaret did not stay.”
Samantha said, “We are no match for her grandchildren. She longs to go to her own family and now, she hopes is done with us, for we have been little joy for her, despite all that the Earl’s money has helped.” Lady Margaret had been married to a naval man as well. Sir Ben had survived his years at sea but was taken from the family by a failing heart. Her son was at sea in the family tradition, and her daughter here in London married to a clerk who did work for the House of Commons. Sebastian knew that the money that the Earl paid to Lady Margaret to maintain a decent house in the country, some made it’s way to London that her daughter and the many grandchildren did not live in penury.
“Well, you must have a chaperone, the both of you, but especially Jennifer. I am to launch you but I can not be at your side as a chaperone will. Lady Margaret would serve such a purpose. I shall also introduce you to the dowager Viscountess of Lowford, for she is launching her daughter Henrietta this season and I hope you shall be friends with her as I am friends with the Viscount.”
“I have heard that the Viscount Lowford is handsome.” Jennifer said.
“No one can be as handsome as our brother though. Is he not the most handsome of men. Are you a dandy?” Samantha asked.
“I should hope not. And Samantha, one does not praise a person so to their face. They shall develop a complex. But I thank you for your compliments. I suppose there are many who thinks that Lowford is handsome, and he is more a fashion plate that walks, then I. My clothes, are fine it is so, but I see no need for more then five coats all told. In my set, it is only Lowford who would swear that five is not even the minimum that one should own. That one needs at least thirty good coats.”
Jennifer seemed to agree, “At least thirty. Brother, you do know that I shall need many new dresses so that I can go out in society. And we shall need horses to ride, and you must throw a ball…” Jennifer had a long list, and it took some while for her to recite it.
“I do understand my obligations and have made allowance for it. Now, you do know that your dowry is not some great sum. I am not the Earl of Bath, nor do I have any greater claim than at present, should he have no son, that I am his heir. He still may do so and then we shall not have a great deal of money to give to a suitor. I should like you to think on that. You do not need marry a great fortune, but our family fortune will not even keep you in modest accommodations from the three percents.”
Samantha looked out a window onto the street while Jennifer said, “We know. James has done better with prize money than father ever had, and if not for the Earl’s generosity we would not even have this. Samantha and I both know what our destiny is, but surely, amongst the men of London, there are those who have fortunes and will look on the sisters of even a near Earl, with love.”
Sebastian smiled, “Yes, of that I am sure. And I know many of them. I shall introduce you to several as is my lot. Now, we must send for the ladies who shall be interviewed to be your chaperones. For they are to live here and must be agreeable to yourselves as well as to me. I have a list and they await our summons.”
In the end, two ladies were chosen. One had lost her husband in the war who was in the senior service, and the other was a widow of an officer of the junior service. Sebastian was sure, that Samantha was already devising names for the two ladies, but that was to be expected of a young girl still two summers away from her Season.
Mrs. Humphries spouse had been in the army while Mrs. Davis was the widow of a naval officer. The Earl may have wished for ladies of rank and title to be chaperones for his distant cousins, but Sebastian knew that until he did become the Earl of Bath his place in society, and that of his sisters were not of the first circle. There were friends and people he could introduce them to, but they also would not be of the first circle except on a very few occasions. They would of course, in their time, attend court at Carleton House and be presented to the Prince Regent.
Sebastian’s few months close association with the Prince would see that his sisters were honored, if not adopted into that society. He was a loving brother, but he did not want his sisters to end up in that set. There were plenty of good parts of the Ton where one could live out their loves in comfort and unnoticed. That should almost have been the first lesson mamas taught their daughters. How to now become an ondit and secure the notice of the Ton.
Sebastian was shamed that some had begun to think of him as rakish. He certainly did not think of himself that way. He thought that he was a very desirable gentlemen to meet and to be matched to. Did not everyman want to think that they were the son every mama wanted for their precious daughters?
Having settled his sisters he attended his cousin at Lords the next day. “Well there you are, and I suppose I am late once more. Never on time, for all these meetings of ours, have I been?” The Earl asked, but Sebastian was sure he expected no answer.
“Before we speak of your prospects this season, Lady Elizabeth has told me that I am to have you come to dinner on Monday she has planned it. And that she has word your sisters have some to town. It is just the family of course so the youngest, Samantha, must come as well.” If it had been others, then Samantha who was too young to have come out into society would have had to stay at home.
“We of course will come,” Sebastian said.
“Good, the Countess will send you your invitation. I think she expects that we must coordinate strategy for all the girls who are about this season. Why I have my niece Henrietta as well as Annabella and your sister. So many young ladies, you will be at many balls this year. I should think we will have many weddings in the fall to attend and honor. I like a good wedding. It reminds me of happy times.” Once more Sebastian was reminded that perhaps the Earl was not as happy as he wished he was. That the marriage to the Countess had not brought the man as much joy as he wished.
As they sat in the chambers of Lords, a man came there way, “Please don’t rise, I just wanted to meet you.” Sebastian of course did rise. The man who had approached them was Spencer Perceval who was Prime Minister. A new acquaintance and Sebastian grasped the man’s hand firmly.
“Lennox, this one, not you young sir, has told me a good deal about you. Good man to go and support the soldiers. I remember when his Highness asked my thoughts on your knighthood. Well deserved I said. And now you are to join us here where the real work is done. I shall be grateful of your support on the benches.” Sebastian had no idea about that last part and the Earl cleared his throat.
“I was just about to tell him of our plan, Perceval. Dare say you’ve put me in it right properly.”
The Prime Minister smiled. Sebastian was sure the man knew what he was doing, “What, did I. Well It has to do with how you will ever dawdle about my friend. We looked for a young strong voice for your borough last year. Poppet has been either truly sick and absent, or drunk and absent many more times than he has been in attendance to cast his vote. Votes we always are in need of.”
Mr. Poppet, Sebastian knew, to be the member for the pocket borough that the Earl controlled in commons. A suspicion that the Earl had something much more important than his yearly lecture to discuss began to form in Sebastian’s mind.
“I hope that should you gentlemen need my help, I can offer it.” Sebastian knew he had to be respective but he hoped he could be non-committal. He may have told his closest friends that he needed to direction. That he needed something useful to pursue. He hadn’t meant that he should take up any role in government. He of course did not worry about paying the expenses that such a career would entail, for it cost money were he desirous of making a name for himself. And one could make money were one to sell ones influence. Even the most silent of members had influence if they were a member of Parliament. Influence that could be quite lucrative.
