I’m still working on a post about the wonderful plays I saw at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and how they’ve inspired my writing But this week I’ve been busy getting the novella, A Night in Berkeley Square, off to the copy editor. It seems a good time to post a teaser, especially as it ties into to some of the past week’s discussion as it touches on Laura and Emily. Here’s the opening scene of A Night in Berkeley Square. Does Laura’s situation fit with what you envisioned after The Mayfair Affair?
Chapter 1
London,
April 1818
“It’s never going to work.”
The woman, who until six weeks ago had been known as Laura Dudley and who now could not say with certainty what name she claimed, stared at her reflection in the pier glass on the wall of her bedchamber. Or rather the bedchamber she occupied in the home of Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch. Until six weeks ago she had been employed as governess to their children. Now her position in the household was undefined. Like the rest of her life.
“Nonsense.” Suzanne Rannoch adjusted the puffed sleeves of Laura’s gown. “People aren’t in the habit of questioning Malcolm’s and my stories.”
“Most of your stories don’t involve amnesia.” Laura smiled at her friend in the mirror. “It’s all right. My situation was enough to tax even your abilities. I’m impressed that you could come up with anything at all. Impressed and grateful. But I can’t but think it might be best for me to avoid society.”
“You can’t avoid it when there’s a ball in our house.” Suzanne smoothed a fold of Laura’s overdress. “Besides it would be a crime for that dress not to be seen.”
Laura turned her gaze back to the looking glass. A stranger stared back at her. For four years she had dressed as a governess in sober, high-necked gowns of gray and dark blue. In the past six weeks she had borrowed some gowns from Suzanne and ordered a few new ones of her own, but nothing like the gown she wore now, the gown that Suzanne had insisted on taking her to order from a French modiste. French blue gauze fastened down the front with pearl clasps over a slip of silver satin. The pearls round her throat were her own, a gift from her father in her long ago days as the colonel’s daughter in India. Her aqua marine earrings were a far more recent gift which had arrived a fortnight since in a plain box not sent through the regular post, with a cream colored card tucked inside signed simply R.
The memory brought warmth to Laura’s cheeks. And a much needed jolt of confidence. Which was probably why he had sent them.
She wondered if Suzanne knew where the earrings had come from. She wondered if Suzanne knew any number of things.
“I used to envy your gowns when you came into the nursery before you went out for the evening,” she confessed. “I wouldn’t have thought I would miss pretty clothes so much, and yet— But I also got used to dressing like a governess. To wearing clothes that blended in to the background.”
“The armor of a role.” Suzanne spoke with the easy assurance of a trained agent used to playing roles. “But your role has changed now.”
That was undeniable. The question was what her new role entailed.
The connecting door to the night nursery opened to admit Suzanne’s friend Lady Cordelia Davenport, an impossibly beautiful, impossibly stylish woman who had been born at the heart of the English beau monde. “More of their supper is going in their mouths than on the floor,” Cordelia reported. “Just. They made me promise to send ices up. And they want to see Laura once her toilet is finished.”
Cordelia’s two daughters were spending the night in the Rannoch nursery along with Laura’s daughter Emily and the Rannoch children Colin and Jessica. Cordelia paused on the threshold, gaze on the looking glass. She had gone with Laura and Suzanne to the modiste’s. “I knew that color would look splendid on you, Laura, but I didn’t realize quite— You’re going to have the ballroom at your feet.”
Laura turned from the mirror with a laugh. Cordelia wore a robe of red crêpe over white satin which set off her pale gold hair and laughed in the face of the gossip about her past. She and the dark-haired Suzanne, in coral lace over a matching silk slip, were perfect foils for each other. “Doing it much too brown, Lady Cordelia. With you and Suzanne, not to mention half the beauties in London, and the latest crop of débutântes—”
“Have you looked in the glass?” Cordelia asked. “Besides, you have all the fascination of mystery.”
“You mean people will be gawking at me because the story of my last four years sounds like something out of a lending library novel.”
“Nonsense—”
“I lost my memory after the carriage accident in India that killed my husband. My infant daughter was spirited away and I became a governess, only to recover my memories when my employers brought me to London.”
“I know.” Suzanne bent down to pick up Berowne the cat who was winding about her ankles, heedless of the delicate fabric of her gown. “You coped wonderfully in appalling circumstances for the past four years and the story makes you look more like a long suffering heroine in need of rescue than a woman who can take care of herself. I wouldn’t like it either. But—”
“But even if people don’t believe it, they’ll never guess the truth,” Cordelia said.
That, Laura acknowledged, was a good point. “You’re quite right,” she said. “I daresay it’s my own qualms about London society talking.”
“London society is certainly worthy of a qualm or two,” Cordelia said. “But you’ve got all of us to support you.”
Cordelia had been born an earl’s daughter but had faced social disgrace when her marriage nearly fell apart. Suzanne, half French, half Spanish, had been viewed by many as a foreign adventuress who had snagged a duke’s grandson. Even though cards of invitation to her parties were now sought after, there were still rumors. “Which is a bit like having an army at my back,” Laura said. “I shouldn’t be missish.”
Cordelia put an arm round her. “Let’s go see your daughter.”
The day nursery, which had once been the heart of Laura’s world and where she still spent a large portion of her time, was bright with lamplight and children’s laughter. Emily looked up from the table. Her eyes went wide. “You look like a princess, Mummy.”
Laura laughed and went to kiss her daughter. Two months ago Laura hadn’t been sure she would ever see her daughter again. Six weeks ago when she brought Emily to the Rannoch house she’d wondered how her daughter would settle in, if she’d ever accept Laura as her mother, if she’d blame Laura for not finding her sooner. But looking at the five children gathered round the nursery table, one would never guess that, unlike the Rannoch and Davenport children who had been nurtured from the cradle, Emily had spent the first four years of her life in an orphanage.
Colin Rannoch set down his cup of milk. “I’m glad you can go to parties, Laura. I always thought it was unfair.”
Suzanne ruffled her son’s hair and set Berowne down next to him as she went to pick up her daughter.
“Can we have some cakes with the ices?” Livia Davenport asked her mother.
“I’ll see what we can do.” Cordelia knelt between her daughters. Seventeen-month-old Jessica Rannoch now in Suzanne’s arms, squirmed round to nurse, which was not the best thing for Suzanne’s evening gown, though she was certainly used to it. Suzanne turned to Blanca, her maid and companion, who was presiding over the nursery meal. “Are you sure—”
“I’ll be quite all right,” Blanca said. “Unlike some, I really do only feel queasy in the mornings.”
Blanca had married Addison, Malcolm Rannoch’s valet, three months ago, and was expecting their first child. Suzanne squeezed Blanca’s shoulder while holding Jessica one-handed. “We’ll send up ices and cakes. And lemonade. And we’ll come up to kiss you goodnight. It should be an easy evening as these things go.”
Blanca snorted. “You always say that.”
Suzanne gave one of the dazzling smiles with which she always faced down risk. “And sometimes I’m right.”
September 11, 2015 at 4:16 am
Love it, love it, love it! Proof positive that Raoul has a romantic streak. The earrings were a lovely touch… just perfect! I think Suzanne will suspect where they came from but may not say anything. And how nice that Blanca and Addison finally tied the knot. Can hardly wait until the novella is out.
September 11, 2015 at 4:51 am
So glad you like it! And particularly that you like the earrings. They occurred to me in revisions when I was describing Laura’s jewelery and just seemed right. The sort of thing he’d think of (probably knowing about the ball) but would send without a lot of fanfare. I think you’re right, Suzanne will suspect where they came from but won’t say anything. At the start of the novella, Laura and Raoul both have delusions that Suzanne and Malcolm don’t know about their involvement – but events may prove them wrong :-).
September 12, 2015 at 3:21 am
Have you got a pub date yet? I think you said November but since I’m getting old I forget these things :).
September 12, 2015 at 4:09 am
Probably the first week in November. We should have an exact date and a pre-order link soon.
September 13, 2015 at 11:11 am
Really exciting! That’s only a month and a half away now. I love your novellas. They keep the story going well and make the wait for a new novel seem much easier.
September 13, 2015 at 1:18 pm
I agree with Suzanne. One book a year would be terribly hard, but with the novellas there is always a story to make the wait easier. I wonder how Bianca’s baby will be integrated into the nursery with the other children?
September 13, 2015 at 6:34 pm
Thanks, Suzanne! So glad you like it. It’s fun for me to have stories out more often as well, and it’s a great way to dramatize events between books. Especially in this case. I think it’s important to show Laura settling into London and what’s happening with her relationship with Raoul, and what’s happening with David and Simon and the children before the next full length book.
September 13, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Kim, that’s a really good question about Blanca and Addison’s child being integrated into the nursery, that it actually only recently occurred to me to ponder. What do you (and others reading this) think?
September 13, 2015 at 6:54 pm
I think because of Malcolm and Suzanne’s liberal thinking that they will put the baby in the nursery with all the other children. I think the “ton” outside their circle of friends will see it as eccentric. I think Carfax will see it as more proof that Malcom and other thinkers like him (especially Simon) will ruin the republic if he doesn’t keep a watch on them.
September 13, 2015 at 7:05 pm
I think that’s what’s very likely to happen, Kim. I think the baby will further strain Malcolm’s and Addison’s ability to remain within the bounds of their roles as master and valet. The addition of the baby will be an interesting development for the whole household.
September 15, 2015 at 12:38 am
I vote for the baby in the nursery. Blanca and Addison are loyal friends as well as servants. I have a question about Blanca – didn’t she just pose as Suzanne’s maid? What was her story before joining Suzanne in the spy business?
September 15, 2015 at 6:34 am
Good memory, Betty. Suzanne and Raoul found Blanca working in a tavern owned by her physically abusive uncle. She helped them obtain some information and they took her with them and she became Suzanne’s friend/companion/fellow spy. She’s always called Suzanne “Suzanne” or sometimes “Melanie” (her real name) when they’re alone, so they’ve never quite been mistress and servant. So the lines have always been blurry, and I imagine the baby’s birth will blur them still more, and for Addison and Charles as well. The implication in the novella and new novel is that Blanca is continuing to spend a lot of time with the children (while Suzanne dresses herself, which she does half the time anyway) and Laura, Suzanne, and Malcolm are also spending a lot of time with them and taking turns giving Colin and Emily lessons.
September 11, 2015 at 7:12 pm
Thank you, thank you!! Can’t wait for the novella. I love the earrings and the color matching perfectly to the dress as if Raoul knows about the purchase from the French modiste. I think Suzanne knows that Raoul sent the earrings and will wait for Laura and/or Raoul to tell her about the earrings and the relationship. I also think that Suzanne will most likely tell Malcolm although he probably has seen the signs too. Very happy about Bianca and Addison baby, they should have some happiness along with everyone else.
September 11, 2015 at 7:24 pm
So glad you liked it, Kim! The earrings and the dress go with Laura’s eyes, so perhaps that accounts for the similarity. Or perhaps Suzanne managed to slip a mention of the color of the dress into a letter to Raoul…
September 13, 2015 at 12:20 am
Thanks for sharing this exerpt. I’m really looking forward to continuing the story. I love the interaction between Laura, Suzanne, Cordelia, and all of the children.
September 13, 2015 at 5:25 am
Great to hear, Betty! I actually wrote this scene towards the end of the novella. I had to get into the story before I figured out how it would start. Then it seemed obvious it should open with preparations for the ball. It was fun working out what they’d all wear and writing the friendship between the three women and the children.
September 15, 2015 at 3:24 am
Put the new baby in the nursery with the rest of the gang. The “ton” probably already thinks that the Rannoch’s are a bit over the top so what’s one more little one. The other children will spoil a new baby, anyway. By the way, I have a question I’ve been meaning to ask for ages. Colin always calls Suzanne “Mummy” instead of “Mama”, as would be typical for the time frame. I thought that “mummy” was more contemporary – am I wrong? You’re a much better historian then I – tell me why you use the term.
September 15, 2015 at 6:10 am
I think you’re right, Lynne. Malcolm and Suzanne are already considered eccentric, perhaps particularly when it comes to their time frame and how they treat their servants. I can’t really imagine Malcolm and Suzanne not making Blancha and Addison’s child part of the nursery group with Colin, Jessica, and Emily. Blanca’s spending more time with the children and that will probably continue so she’ll be with her child and the others.
The OED actually has Mummy going back to 1839. Given that spoken usage tends to precede written usage, I don’t think it’s completely out of the questions in the 1810s, though it may be a bit unusual. Mummy and Daddy (which the OED has going back ot 1500) sound more natural and less formal to me for young children than Mama and Papa. And they’re what I called my parents (and my Melanie calls me Mummy, though also at times Mama, Mommy, and Mom) so that gives me an affection for the terms.
September 16, 2015 at 4:54 am
Thanks for the explanation – it makes more sense now. And God forbid I should question the OED ;)!
September 16, 2015 at 7:56 am
Glad it makes sense! The OED is an invaluable resource :-).
October 10, 2020 at 10:33 pm
thank you very much for your support