Tag Archives: The Marriage Wager

The American Bride! Scandal, Disguises and Romance!

Miss Darcy has discovered a treasure trove of documents from one of the Daughter’s of Sweet’s Racing Club (DSRC) setting her heart a flutter. As you know a traveling chest has been found. Although normally she would never cry rope (tattle) Miss Darcy went to a dreadful squeeze of the first consequence (large gathering of society)over the American holiday of Thanksgiving. There one of the guests, a descendent of the Landglowers,was foxed (drunk) and confirmed one of the rumors that was circulating about Julian Weatherfield, grandson of the Duchess of Landglower, having married an American. The rumor which Miss Darcy has been at great pains to confirm concerns a proxy marriage. Certainly a havey cavey (helter-skelter) affair.

The American Bride

 

The whole story is contained in a historical novel HERE. Married by proxy!  Will Caroline Leland be bedded by a total stranger when she arrives in England in this delightful romantic comedy?  Can this feisty American heiress find love and happiness married to an English lord she has never seen?  Cara disguises herself as a dowdy governess to observe her new husband.  He’s arrogant and annoying but so very handsome and alluring. She’s courting danger and seduction with this disguise. To avoid discovery all she need do is remain quietly in the background.  What an impossible task for this independent rebel!

To buy or download a sample click HERE.

 

Your faithful Correspondent,

Karla Darcy

PS: If you are not signed up yet to Miss Darcy’s regular correspondence, please sign up now! You don’t want to miss this! Click HERE!

 

 

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The Masked Heart Revealed!

Miss Darcy is elated that so many of you ignored the gossipmongers and instead learned the truth contained in The Masked Heart. Your  enthusiasm after her latest disclosures sent the book climbing to lofty heights on the Amazon list of the top 100 Free books in Historical Fiction. It couldn’t have happened without tons of friends and supporters of the Daughters of Sweet’s Racing Club.

Soon Miss Darcy will vouchsafe (grant in a gracious manner) other tales of romance and intrigue that have been revealed to her by members of the DSRC. A traveling chest has been discovered in the attics of Weathersfield Hall, one the homes originally owned by the legendary Duke and Duchess of Landglower.

 The Masked Heart

 Documents are being authenticated at this time and once that process has been completed Miss Darcy will be able to bring to light more of the history of the gentlemen members of Sweet’s.

 

As you are aware now, most of the gossip concerning the history of Lord Farrington and La Solitaire was a Banbury tale (a lie.) In case you missed the truth contained in The Masked Heart, you can download it HERE.

Your faithful Correspondent,

Karla Darcy

PS: If you are not signed up yet to Miss Darcy’s regular correspondence, please sign up now! You don’t want to miss this! Click HERE!

 

 

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Karla Darcy Loves Swashbuckling Historical Romance, Don’t You?

Miss Darcy laments the amount of rumor that has swirled around the identity of La Solitaire, the mysterious actress who took London by storm. We’re not talking some horrid clandestine affair with a scheming hussy of an opera dancer but a celebrated actress with an unsullied reputation. As you can imagine the mere thought that a duel might be fought over her between Lord Andrew Farrington and Talbott Stoddard has the ton atwitter. The gentlemen of Sweet’s Racing Club have been close to putting up their dabblers (raising their fists to fight) in their rush to make the winning entry in the betting book. Dear readers, Miss Darcy would never cry rope (tattle) but she would like you to be aware of the truth. Find out for yourself the true story contained in . It is free Sunday, November 18th only. You can download the kindle version at Amazon absolutely free.

HERE.

Delicious gossip debunked. Miss Blaine Meriweather is a young woman of good family whose estate is in financial shambles. How will she care for her brother and sister? Out of options, she becomes the astonishing actress La Solitaire! A brave but birdwitted idea of course. Imagine the scandal if anyone discovers her identity! Blaine’s wild success saves her family. All should be well. The only thing she hadn’t counted on was Lord Farrington, who is determined to make La Solitaire his mistress! Blaine’s finest acting is required to save her virtue, her family, and their honor. It would have been so easy, if only Blaine hadn’t fallen in love….

Secret identities, intrigue and Love! To download, click HERE.

Your faithful Correspondent,

Karla Darcy

PS: If you are not signed up yet to Miss Darcy’s regular correspondence, please sign up now! You don’t want to miss this! Click HERE!

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Karla Darcy Channels Jane Austen Style Regency Romance

Despite Miss Darcy’s attempt to expose the truth about Lord Farrington’s affair of the heart, the gossip is far off the mark. The ton (fashionable society) is all-a-gog at the ramshackle behavior in the London theatre. While it is true that Farrington threatened to draw Talbott Stoddard’s cork (punch him), he is far too civilized to carry out such a deed. Both combatants retired to Sweet’s Racing Club for a game of whist. Dear readers, Miss Darcy is aware that you want to know what really happened. Instead of listening to the scandalmongers, you should hear the true story contained in The Masked Heart that you can get for free Saturday, November 17th. You can download the kindle version at Amazon absolutely free by clicking HERE.

Pray forgive Miss Darcy if she gives you a hint of details to be disclosed. Miss Blaine Meriweather is a young woman of good family whose estate is in financial shambles. How will she care for her brother and sister? Out of options, she becomes the astonishing actress La Solitaire! Imagine the scandal if anyone discovers her identity! Blaine’s wild success saves her family. All should be well. The only thing she hadn’t counted on was Lord Farrington, who is determined to make La Solitaire his mistress! Blaine’s finest acting is required to save her virtue, her family, and their honor. It would have been so easy, if only Blaine hadn’t fallen in love….

Will Blaine save her family from disaster?

Your faithful Correspondent,

Karla Darcy

PS: If you are not signed up yet to receive Miss Darcy’s regular correspondence, please sign up now! You don’t want to miss this! Click HERE!

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Karla Darcy Exposes Sweet’s Racing Club Romance!

Miss Darcy confided yesterday Lord Farrington’s infatuation with an actress, however she was not cognizant of the betting book entry at Sweet’s Racing Club. In Regency times many clubs had a book where a member could enter a bet. Who knew that the odds were not solidly in favor of Farrington winning La Solitaire? The other contender was the dastardly Talbott Stoddard. Virtue besieged! A possible duel!  Devil confound it! What more could endanger Blaine Meriweather. Miss Darcy is at sixes and sevens (a state of confusion or disorder) and needs to clear up any lingering uncertainty so she is offering HERE. free on Friday, November 16th. You can download the kindle version at Amazon absolutely free.

HERE.

Would Miss Darcy be henwitted enough to tell you anything but a dazzling story? Miss Blaine Meriweather is a young woman of good family whose estate is in financial shambles. How will she care for her brother and sister? Out of options, she becomes the astonishing actress La Solitaire! Imagine the scandal if anyone discovers her identity! Blaine’s wild success saves her family. All should be well. The only thing she hadn’t counted on was Lord Farrington, who is determined to make La Solitaire his mistress! Blaine’s finest acting is required to save her virtue, her family, and their honor. It would have been so easy, if only Blaine hadn’t fallen in love….

Will she save her family from disaster? To download, click HERE.

Your faithful Correspondent,

Karla Darcy

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Karla Darcy’s Humorous Regency Romance Free For You!

Miss Darcy confessed yesterday that the Sweet’s Racing Club was all atwitter over the scandalous behavior of Lord Andrew Farrington and that beguiling minx, Blaine Meriweather. Miss Darcy has unearthed the shocking truth behind this romantic affair of the heart. Disguises, chases and intrigue! Wouldn’t you want to be privy to the latest on dits? (For those not up on our Regency “cant” or slang those words mean “It is said” – a piece of gossip –a vague rumor.) Miss Darcy wishes to set the rumors straight so she is offering free on Thursday, November 15th. You can download the kindle version at Amazon absolutely free. Downton Abbey is quite mundane compared to this story.

HERE.

Despite the tittle-tattle circulating around the social set this is a charming romance. Miss Blaine Meriweather is a young woman of good family whose estate is in financial shambles. How will she care for her brother and sister? Out of options, she becomes the astonishing actress La Solitaire! Imagine the scandal if anyone discovers her identity! Blaine’s wild success saves her family. All should be well. The only thing she hadn’t counted on was Lord Farrington, who is determined to make La Solitaire his mistress! Blaine’s finest acting is required to save her virtue, her family, and their honor. It would have been so easy, if only Blaine hadn’t fallen in love….

Will her virtue survive? To download, click HERE.

Your faithful Correspondent,

Karla Darcy

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Karla Darcy, Downton Abbey, and Jane Austen, Oh, My!

Piffle! Miss Darcy can’t believe what a havey-cavey (unsteady or disorderly) situation one of the gentlemen of Sweet’s Racing Club has gotten into. She would like you to hear for yourself what transpired in the London theater when Lord Farrington endeavored to make La Solitaire his mistress. The celebrated actress who has bedazzled London is a total mystery. None of the men who have pursured her have won her favors. November 14th you can download the kindle version at Amazon absolutely free. Despite the rumors circling around the social set The Masked Heart is a delightful romance. Full of historical details of the London theater in the Regency era. And, oh my, the romance! Better than waiting for Downton Abbey reruns!

Miss Blaine Meriweather is a young woman of good family whose estate is in financial shambles. How will she care for her brother and sister? Out of options, she becomes the astonishing actress La Solitaire! Imagine the scandal if anyone discovers her identity! Blaine’s wild success saves her family. All should be well. The only thing she hadn’t counted on was Lord Farrington, who is determined to make La Solitaire his mistress! Blaine’s finest acting is required to save her virtue, her family, and their honor. It would have been so easy, if only Blaine hadn’t fallen in love….

Surely you’re not birdwitted enough to miss the opportunity to learn all the romantic details. To download, click HERE.

Your faithful Correspondent,

Karla Darcy

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Karla Darcy’s Raffle Was Delightful!

Miss Darcy is delighted that you enjoyed the contest last week. Thank you to all of you who entered!  It was lovely to have so many responses. There will be more opportunities in the future so be sure to sign up for the mailing list if you want to be notified of the next one. Your support on the raffle sent The Virtuous Ward up to #19 on the Hot New Releases in Regency Romances on Amazon! Miss Darcy is in high alt at your gracious support.

Miss Darcy’s heart is all a flutter just thinking of what new excitement is in store for her and the ladies of the DSRC, the Daughters of Sweet’s Racing Club. Stop by Miss Darcy’s Author Page to make sure you haven’t missed any of the scandalous details being exposed.

Your faithful correspondent,

Karla Darcy

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A Farrago of Nonsense

Miss Darcy was invited to lunch by Lorraine Farrington, one of the Daughters of the Sweet’s Racing Club (DSRC). She had invited five of us for lunch. A half dozen women who had known each other for thirty years. Our friendship had been forged in the crucible of bake sales, girl scout outings, church suppers and all the causes and committees from hell that made up the tapestry of our lives. As Historian I was compelled to take notes of the meeting. Although it was a farrago of nonsense as they would say in the Regency period, I present it here for your enjoyment:

“He was young and handsome. We met in the meat section of the grocery store.  Just to the left of the pork shoulders.”

Lorraine was an accountant and details were important. She blotted her tearstained cheeks with a crumpled lunch napkin as the rest of us waited for her to divulge details on this crisis meeting.

“Cut to the chase.” Tish was an efficiency expert. Her closet organization made the rest of us weep. “What did he say?”

Lorraine bit her lip. “He asked me how to cook a beef roast.”

We sucked in our collective breaths and exchanged pitying glances. The ultimate insult.

“When did it happen?” I asked.

“One night, I went to bed a trim, interesting, sexy woman and I woke up with elephant thighs, a low IQ and opinions similar to my mother.”

“Men don’t hit on us anymore.” Coming from an ultra-feminist, Gail’s statement was a surprise. A few years ago she’d tried to run down a man whose only offense was whistling at her. “All we have to look forward to are the golden years.”

“Bite your tongue,” Dixiebelle said. She had bronzed her high school pompoms and hung them on the wall of the den beside her husband’s football trophies. To her, high school was the golden years.

“Face it. Our best days are gone.” Maggie looks at life realistically, a virtue some of us consider highly overrated.  “We’re faceless, aging seniors.”

“I’m not.” Dixiebelle had a postage stamp conveniently covering the date of birth on her driver’s license. “I’m much closer to Generation Y.”

“Nobody’s quibbling over dates. It’s the concept.” Lorraine always tried to get us to look at the big picture. “The world is created for and run by the young. That used to be us.  We used to make policies. Now we talk about hot flashes, knee replacements and 401 Ks.”

“Soy and real estate.” Tish, ever efficient, talked as if she were paid by the word. “All you can count on now.”

“It all comes down to sex. It’s an integral part of life,” Gail said. “When did we stop talking about sex?”

The Tell-all Story of Lorraine’s Ancestor, Lord Andrew Farrington.

 “Talking is all we do lately.” Maggie’s brows were bunched together as if she were in pain. “When I taught high school, there was more action in the parking lot than I’m seeing these days. I’ve almost forgotten how.”

“Want me to explain anything?” Dixiebelle had just remarried and had the kind of secret smile that made you want to slap her.

“Keep to the subject,” Gail said. “We’ve become invisible. No one wants our opinions, they just want us to buy things and stay in the background.”

“We used to have power. We used to be movers and shakers,” I said. “Now the only things shaking are my upper arms.”

“I don’t want to have buns of steel or dress like a teenage rock star for someone to take notice of me,” Maggie said. “I’m hoping to age gracefully and earn respect for my years.”

“My mother used to say, you’ve got to be strong to survive the golden years.”  Dixiebelle fluttered her eyelashes. “Then she’d invite her friends over and make mint juleps.”

“I’d rather have lunch,” Tish said. “You can plot the overthrow of the government over a good chicken salad.”

“In the kid days and our early work years,” Gail said, “we banded together and pooled knowledge to solve problems and shared joys and sorrows.”

“Why not get together once a month,” Lorraine suggested.

“We need the support now more than ever. We can empower our golden years with the things the younger generations don’t have,” Maggie said. “Knowledge and experience.  Think of this as our Boom Times.”

Tish whipped out her dayplanner while the rest of us searched for something to write on. I rummaged in my overstuffed purse until I found my eyeliner and the last of my deposit slips. I wrote down the next date and time, then tucked the note in my bra so that I’d be sure to find it when I got home.

Six heads nodded with the realization that we had taken back control.

“By the way, Lorraine, what did you tell the guy about cooking a beef roast?” Tish asked.

“I told him 400 degrees for seven hours.”

As Maggie Smith on Downton Abbey would have said, “We know how to play the game.”

Miss Darcy will be updating you on further goings on of the DSRC. In the meantime you should check out Lorraine Farrington’s ancestor Lord Andrew Farrington in the tell-all book The Masked Heart (Book 2 in the Sweet Deception Regency Series).

Buy or Download a Sample by clicking HERE.

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Special Introductory Price

Miss Darcy is happy to announce that because The Virtuous Ward is just being launched, it is available for a limited time at $.99. It’s such an amusing story and was great fun to write so I’m thrilled to share it with you. All of you who are privy to the time period will recall that Lady Grassmere was prevailed upon to act as chaperone to Lord Maxwell Kampford’s ward, Amity. What a contretemps. The poor girl was totally unprepared for society. And then of course there was the dog.

 

 

Muffin was not a dog of noble birth or ancestry. He was to be perfectly honest a mutt. But Amity loved him as you will see.

“Come on, Muffin, you lazy slug. Wake up,” Amity muttered, elbowing her companion. When this tactic had little effect, she leaned over and whispered. “I’ll help you look for cats. And maybe even a rabbit.”

Thus tempted, Amity’s companion, an enormous brown dog of unknown and highly suspect origin yawned, his great tongue arching upward between neat rows of white teeth. He stretched all four legs and emitted a low rumbling moan before he turned his head toward his mistress. Muffin’s eyelids raised and he stared at Amity through soulful pools of brown.

“What a lump you are,” Amity said as she hugged her friend, nuzzling one floppy ear. “Ever since we got in the coach this morning you’ve been sleeping. Besides we’re almost there. Coachman said it would be another half hour.”

Thus reminded of their imminent arrival, Amity bit her lip, feeling the jolt of her accelerated heartbeat. She pushed the huge dog off her lap and brushed at the clumps of dog hair left behind. Then reaching up, she untied the blue ribbon that confined her hair at the nape of her neck. As usual a cloud of the bright red curls had escaped and were billowing around her cheeks. She raked her fingers through the shimmering mass of waist-length hair and retied the ribbon.

“My reticule! My gloves!” she wailed, searching the carriage.

She found the reticule at last beneath the plain poke bonnet, which she jammed on her head, but after a hurried hunt, could not find her mittens. She remembered removing them at the last stop and accepted the sad fact that she would have to arrive at her destination with bare hands. The reticule was dusty and she grasped the strings and smacked it against the squabs sending up clouds of dust. Muffin inhaled and sneezed so heartily that the movement propelled the dog upright, where he sat, eyes wide open and black nose aquiver. When Amity giggled at the dog’s expression, he looked so offended that she burst into a loud whoop of laughter. Thus Amity and Muffin arrived at Edgeworth.

Buy or download a sample by clicking HERE.

 

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