An Interview and new book coming soon
I have been interviewed once more. I am still plugging Jane Austen and Ghosts 
. The feedback has been that those who have bought and read it, think it is a fun little romp. Just not many of you have taken the time to do so. I urge you to do so.
I have been interviewed at 
Sherry Jones website who found me through the English Historical Fiction Authors blog. Well worth your time to drop by. My next post there will go up on September 1.
In line with that date, a big day for me, I am working on the final edits of a few books. Most recently, those who follow this blog will remember Two Peas in a Pod 
. The story of brothers just back from the Napoleonic wars. Brothers who are identical and only a fine deduction can tell them apart. What tribulations they get into for they discovered long ago that they could exchange places with each other.
What is very hard in this, is that the two Brothers are named Percival and Peregrine. Their sisters who are not twins, are named Priscilla and Penelope.
Something a gentleman wouldn’t, or at least shouldn’t do.
Here is an excerpt from the first chapter.
Chapter 1:It was a Close Run Thing
The Duke, he was that now, called and they went off to fight. At least that was the romantic way of thinking of things. “When father said that he would purchase commissions for us, I thought that we would do the normal thing. Parade about Town. Smile for the pretty girls. Chase actresses,” Percival Francis Michael Coldwell, the Earl of Kent said. He was a captain in the third battalion of the Grenadier Guards. It had been a terrible day. Hellacious was the word he was thinking, but if the rumors were true, the little corporal had fled again.
Major Peregrine Maxim Frederick Coldwell, the honourable, second in command of the second battalion of the Guards, looked at his older brother of seventeen minutes. He shook his head. Percy always complained about extra work. He did it, but if he could not complain about it, things were not right.
“And my lord, would you not have been bored beyond belief. I like that. It aliterates very well.” Peregrine scolded his brother. Percival would know it was a scold, since he had been called by a title and they were alone. They were the closest of brothers, not only as they were seventeen minutes apart in age, but in appearance, they looked exactly alike, though Percival had assured Peregrine that he weighed more. Peregrine noted that the way his brother had been eating and drinking, it was probably true.
“Should be much less bored chasing skirts and light o’loves then having some damn Frenchie try and skewer me, thank you very much. How many charges today? Do you really suppose it is true this time? That Bonney is finally defeated?” Percival asked. Peregrine knew his brother was upset by the day’s events. He was also. It was a difficult day, but then any day when their had been fighting had been difficult. Some damn near disastrous. Late last night when they had switched identities, again, had been to help calm the Earl’s nerves.
“I can appreciate a good woman and think that yes, we have finally sent the tyrant away for ever, now. Where is he going to get new men? France is bled dry. Hell even we are knocked up pretty badly. And them damn colonists in america are still fighting.” Peregrine said.
“I really don’t care about the americas. I pretty much care about me, and you a bit, well just so as I don’t have to write some dreadful letter to our sisters.” Percy smiled though to show that he was joking about that. He did care a bit about the Americas for their vast holdings had ownership in land there still, as well as the Caribbean. Percy was rich, and if the war was really over, he could resign his commission, though after today, they would call Captain Kent, for Peregrine was Major Coldwell, a hero. Even though it had been Peregrine who had been at the forefront of Percy’s company all day, repelling three regiments of Chasseurs. Everyone thought it was the Earl, while in the rear of the battalion, coordinating all of Colonel Askews commands and desires, everyone thought that Peregrine had done what was needful to ensure the Grenadiers fought excellently. It of course was not the case as they had changed position, and Percival had done his share and been in danger acting as Peregrine. Just not so foolish as to stand and exhort his men to bravery in front of them all as the enemy neared, or to lead charges and countercharges from the front. Madness is what it had been. But effective.
“Thank you my lord for your concern. I shall see what orders I may cut for the hero of the day and perhaps arrange for you to billet somewhere that a beauteous and impressionable farmers daughter might be will to accommodate our hero.” Peregrine smiled so his brother would know that he teased as well.
“Don’t you start. I think you have had a leg over just as many farmers daughters, and cit’s beauties as I have had this damnable war. Too few it is. Why the boys at Oxford would be damn disappointed in the both of us. No you need not go out of your way. Besides this hero nonsense, you best forget about it. I am sure Beaky knows all, though I am still mystified how he can tell us apart, damn few others can. And Askew. Askew knows for certain for he called my by name though where only he and I could be heard.”
That their commander knew was not so worrisome to Perry. The colonel knew that it was better to have a man of courage at the head of one of his companies, rather then have to worry about it. Peregrine did wonder how the man could tell, but perhaps it was because of the courage he displayed. Askew had remarked on it once before. Percy was just a tad more cautious then Peregrine. Something that was not a bad trait but noticeable in battle. Where you might not always want it to be. Cautious of course was a euphemism for fear. But not cowardice. The Guards had long ago gotten rid of the cowards amongst them. They were back in England, safe and enjoying life with barques of frailty.
“How does the Duke know about this?” Peregrine indicated the deception. They had done so several times, perhaps a dozen, since they had arrived on the continent. Mostly it was when one of them wanted a break. Especially Percival, for he did not like all the fawning and brown nosing that went with his being the Earl. Their father having died the last year they were at Oxford. Percival immediately bought a Captaincy and did not finish his schooling. Something that Peregrine knew would have upset their father.
Perry waited until he had finished his schooling and did use a portion of the funds his father had set aside to also purchase a Captaincy, not in the Guards, but no sooner had he been serving for six months, but a Majority had become available and he was asked to step-up and purchase it with a transfer. Being able to command his younger brother was something he could not resist and it gave them the opportunity to play their infamous pranks. Peregrine found it comforting to know he was doing well as a Major, was close to his brother, and had little worries, but now with the war ended, he had little idea what to do. Should he stay an officer? If the Duke had taken a dislike to their pranks, or any of the seniors, then that would spell an end to that line of reasoning.
Percival did not have to worry about such things. There was easily sixty thousand a year for him to spend, and Peregrine could not complain for Percival did give him some money as an income. He also would dower their youngest sister, Penelope, who was due to come out to society that christmas. She had been worst hit by their father’s death, for she was still at home in the schoolroom. Priscilla, the oldest of all of them, had been married the very year the old Earl had died. Now the Marchioness of Dorset, she was quite full of her own importance, at least the tone of her letters suggested it so.
“I don’t know how Beaky knows anything. But he does. He was riding by and called out to me, ‘Kent, come here.’ Though I know he has summoned you the same on occasion, he looked deep into my face, and we both knew that he was onto our prank. He leaned over. ‘As long as I have a Coldwell to my front, I am relieved,’ he said. He was talking about you of course. Knows I can make the men march, but should not like to do so when the bullets are flying. Neither does he of course, always riding everywhere.”
“He is the general of all. Of course he is riding everywhere. At least we weren’t at La Haye Sainte, should not like to have been there. Well if the Duke is upset, I shall hear of it shortly, I am sure. He has always been one to speak so. He mentioned the last full dinner that you were invited to, and I went in your place so you could sleep, that he quite understood your desire to not always traipse about as the Earl. We must have some trait that he can sniff out. Not many others can tell us apart.”
“Of course he can sniff it out. Damn big nose. What else is it good for.” Percival thought he was being funny. “Should think you said something when you went to that dinner and he knew.” It had been just a few weeks before and Percival had not wanted to be addressed as the Earl all night. Too much spanish coin, and others cutting a wheedle made him disgruntled.
Peregrine shook his head. “I assure you I did not. The Duke is just insightful. I would wish you to not call him by that name you do. I am sure you would not like to hear those you admire call you by a vile name. Besides, he has been quite good to us. Especially if he does know that we have been switching again.” Percival nodded in agreement.
“Hmm, did you know that you have some blood upon your arm there?”
“Yes, I was grazed but bound it up. It shall heal I am sure, and it is the arm. It will always be covered and no one will see the wound should my lord wish to exchange again in future.”
“Oh posh. I am concerned. You are my brother. Have you had a doctor look at it? There must be a damn one around here someplace.” Percival was struggling to rise. He had already had a half bottle of wine, Peregrine having the other half. It was a concession to another bloody day being over, and they both surviving. Earlier, while their mother remained alive, it was a worry that if one did not survive, what they would say to her. Now they had no attachments and their sisters, well those two chits would survive. Certainly Priscilla having married so well. Percival believed he was responsible for he thought he had thrown Priscilla in the way of Valéry Soames, the Marquis of Dorset. Soames was well off, though not as rich as the Kent’s. In land at least. Soames had more then enough money to meet his expenses of a year. That, Peregrine considered was all that a man need have to be rich. He thought of himself so.
Are you A RAPper or a RAPscallion?
