Also part of Swoon Reads, I must thank the amazingly talented authors who are unfailing in their support and eagerness, especially Kelly, Danika, and Kim. It is a very good thing that we do not live in the same place or mischief would occur!
I would also like to thank all the readers who have contacted me through Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and the Swoon Reads website. There is nothing more uplifting than knowing that I have added a touch of humor, contentment, romance, and a few sleepless nights to your lives.
Last, but never least, I would like to thank my family. Thank you, Mike, for being the best sounding board ever and your remarkable knowledge of … well, of everything. Deb, I would not be the writer I am if you had not challenged me to be better, argued about how to ride tandem on a horse, and corrected my grammar over and over. Christine, you are a photographer extraordinaire, my go-to media girl, and the perfect alpha reader when I am uncertain. Dan, your energy and laughter are contagious; you energize my creativity and humor. Mom, there is no fan like you—if I were half the writer you thought me to be, I would be content!
THE RULES FOR DUELS
There were three main reasons for offering a challenge: taking liberties with a female relative; dishonorable behavior (cheating, defamation, etc.); or attacking physically.
Once the challenge was accepted, seconds would be chosen to act on behalf of the principals. They were close, trusted friends—the protocols were in their hands.
The second’s first duty was to try to resolve the dispute without having to resort to “pistols at dawn.” There was no dishonor in offering an apology or admitting an error.
Most duels were held in early morning, just outside of town.
It was the duty of the second to check the pistol, load it, and mark out the distance—generally, between ten and fourteen paces.
The principals saluted each other before stepping to their mark and turning sideways—pistol arm outstretched—waiting for the handkerchief to be dropped.
Principals could fire at each other or into the air.
After, if they were able, both parties would salute, express regret, and leave the field. The last fatal duel in England was in 1852; the winner was tried for murder.
FUN FACTS OF THE REGENCY PERIOD: MARRIAGE LAWS AND CUSTOMS
Marriages were valid only if they had been advertised by banns (read out in church on three consecutive Sundays) or were sanctioned by a special license; they also had to be recorded in a church register.
Parental consent was required for anyone under twenty-one: even if betrothed at an earlier age, most married in their early twenties.
A “smock” wedding required a bride to be naked (although she usually wore a shift for propriety). It was believed that a bride without clothes or property did not bring debts to the union, either—however, this was a custom, not a law.
The wedding ring was placed on the fourth finger on the left hand because of an old belief that a small artery ran from the finger to the heart.
Weddings took place in the morning by canon law. It decreed that they could be solemnized only between eight AM and noon.
The meal after the ceremony was a wedding breakfast. Elaborate weddings could continue throughout the day, with music, dancing, and games.
A honeymoon did not exist in the Regency period, but the well-off took an extended tour (sometimes called a bridal tour), and they did not go alone, bringing friends and/or family and, naturally, servants.
A Tea Date
with author Cindy Anstey and her editor, Emily Settle
“Getting to Know You (A Little More)”
Emily Settle (ES): What book is on your nightstand now?
Cindy Anstey (CA): I often read more than one book at a time, but Ancillary Sword, by Ann Leckie, is the one keeping me from turning out the light … right now. A space opera might seem a strange choice, but my taste in books is quite eclectic.
ES: A space opera is never out of place, in my humble opinion. What’s your favorite word?
CA: I love words too much to have a favorite—but today (notice how I’m qualifying) I would choose addlepated, swoony, bombastic, whiffler, and amalgamate. I do overuse excellent, but it’s more of a habit than a favorite.
ES: If you could travel in time, where would you go and what would you do? I mean, based on your writing, I’m actually pretty convinced that you are, in fact, a time traveler, so …
CA: (Laughs) Thank you. I wish I were a time traveler. First-person research would be amazing! I would love to spend a summer getting to know, truly know, Jane Austen. I would sit at her feet and listen as she explained her society and culture, her writing methods, and her life philosophy. (I specify the summer because I would freeze without central heat in the winter, and all those unwashed bodies in closed, smoky rooms would be rather (gag) stinky to the twenty-first-century nose.)
ES: What was the most fascinating or funniest thing you discovered while doing research for Duels & Deception?
CA: I discovered a little-known fact that doesn’t really play in the book but I have to use sometime. When a gentleman married, there was no assumption that his bachelor friends would be accepted into his new life. Only if the friend(s) were invited to meet the bride (at the wedding or a dinner or invited to “call”) would the relationship continue as it was. Otherwise, the boys would only meet at the club, or races, etc.; but if they crossed paths while out, they would pretend to not know one another, so as not to cause the bride discomfort.
ES: I would read that book!
“The Swoon Reads Experience (Continues!)”
ES: What’s your favorite thing about being a Swoon Reads author so far?
CA: I thrive on positivity, and so I would have to say that my favorite aspect of being a Swoon Reads author is the enthusiasm that permeates everything from the team to the other authors to the readers.
ES: How has the Swoon Reads community affected your experiences as an author?
CA: I think every author suffers from self-doubt to some degree, but the Swoon Reads community offers such great support that it crowds out the doubts and energizes my creativity. It spurs me on!
ES: Did the publication of Love, Lies and Spies change your life?
CA: Absolutely! You couldn’t get better affirmation for all those hours spent at the computer. I walk much taller now—metaphorically speaking. Better still, my husband has taken over the cooking so that I can keep writing—which is fantastic because he always was the better cook.
ES: Aw, that’s so sweet. And we appreciate his efforts so you can keep writing, too! Do you have any advice for aspiring authors on the site?
CA: There is no fast track to learning how to write well, but every word, sentence, and chapter that you type is a step closer to that ultimate goal. So, keep at it. Write and read … repeat.
“The Writing Life”