Introductions: Adam's Best Friend, Lord Connor Northwicke

Lord Connor Northwicke is the only person Adam really trusts.

Slightly taller than average with blond hair and blue eyes, Connor has a ready smile and a penchant for behaving in ways not always entirely acceptable in Society. He is the second son of the Duke of Denbigh with a very comfortable income of his own. This allows him a measure of freedom seldom enjoyed by second sons.

When Connor was younger, he developed an interest in the medical field. He had a wonderful mentor and friend who was willing to teach him all he was willing to learn.

Connor's "hobby" turned out to be more useful than it should have been. The son of a duke had no business acting as physician to the tenants. With his usual insouciance for what was considered "proper" behavior, Connor did as he wished, acting in a medical capacity when Dr Steele was not available.

Adam and Connor's friendship started at Eton when Adam taught Connor to defend himself from bullies. Despite their three-year age difference and personalities as different as black and white, the two young men became inseparable.

Where Adam was somber and studious, Connor was lighthearted and athletic. They rarely agreed on anything yet kept each other from getting into too much trouble.

After Adam's return from war, Connor found him unapproachable for the first time. The dark-haired man was secretive, bitter, and closemouthed about his reasons for being so. Connor formed some conclusions, did some sleuthing of his own and discovered a few secrets that worried and shocked him.

Connor's first appearance in Betrayal is within the first few chapters. Once again, when Adam finds himself into more than he can handle alone, he enlists the help of his best friend. Connor appears frequently through Adam's story, as does Connor's wife Verena. (Their story is told in a prequel, the yet-to-be-released Angel.)

Next article: Introductions: Adam's Mistress, Raven Emerson

*The preceding is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are fictitious or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, to factual events or businesses is coincidental and unintentional.

(c) 2009 Laura J Miller aka Jaimey Grant. All rights reserved. No portion of this work may be reproduced in print or electronically without the written permission of the author.

Introductions: Our Heroine, Bri

Bri is wealthy, titled and beautiful. Masses of dark red curls flow down her back, emerald green eyes most often flashing in cynical amusement. She is headstrong, stubborn, and her language can make a fishmonger blush. She used to be a lady. But now...

Bri was born to the Earl and Countess of Rothsmere in 1796. Her birth was a difficult one, leaving the countess barren. Bri was a source of disappointment to her father; predictably, he wanted his immense wealth and title to pass to a son. It was an added vexation that his title could pass to a daughter.

As a child, Bri was not the quiet young lady of which all parents dream. She was into mischief at every opportunity. Her numerous nannies and governesses could not control her. She loved life and loved to live.

Bri's parents died, leaving her a title, wealth, and many, many family members who would oversee the proper care of her fortune. Her family wanted nothing more than her moneybags, content to abuse her at every opportunity, verbally and physically. She loved once, was betrayed, and fled into servitude. Eventually, she found herself on the streets. The unreliability of man became something with which she was all too familiar.

Having gained the age of 20, we are first introduced to her as she sits in Newgate Prison, awaiting her execution.

Next article: Introductions: Adam's Best Friend, Lord Connor Northwicke

*The preceding is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are fictitious or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, to factual events or businesses is coincidental and unintentional.

(c) 2009 Laura J Miller aka Jaimey Grant All rights reserved. No portion of this work may be reproduced in print or electronically without the written permission of the author.

Introductions: Our Hero, Adam Prestwich

Now that we all know the basics of the time period, on to Betrayal...

The first person I'd like to introduce is the hero of our tale, Mr. Adam Prestwich. I wish I had a lovely picture of Adam. I have a new colleague who will be sketching covers for me and I will confer with her on a lovely portrait of Adam. Meanwhile, we will all just have to imagine him. :o)

He is the tall, dark and handsome type with short black hair, pale eyes and a sardonic expression more often than not. He was born in 1785, making him 31 years old at the opening of our tale. His parents were probably quite typical of the time, leaving the raising of their children to the servants. Although being sent off to school at an early age, he learned very quickly how deceptive and manipulative females could be; his mother and sisters were prime examples.

Adam's best friend is Lord Connor Northwicke, the younger son of the Duke of Denbigh. They became friends at Eton, a rather unusual circumstance with their nearly three-year age difference. Taking pity on a small boy who was the target of bullies, Adam taught Connor to defend himself. This was the bonding agent for their friendship. Adam spent his holidays at Denbigh after that, having little reason to miss his family.

In school, Adam was a bookworm. He loved learning and learned anything he could. He graduated top of his class from Oxford University. It was therefore quite odd when he expressed an interest in joining the military. The Duke of Denbigh purchased a commission for him, that man a little disappointed in his own son for adamantly refusing to enlist.

Proving himself to be rather brilliant in battle, Adam rose quickly in rank. After Napoleon's incarceration on Elba, he was sent home on leave, choosing not to resign his commission. He went to his family's home in Cornwall instead of returning to Denbigh. Discovering his entire family had died of illness during his absence, Adam became the reluctant owner of his family estate. Discovering he had a knack for finding people, he occupied himself as an amateur sleuth. He was thus engaged in finding a certain young lady when Napoleon escaped. He returned to war.

At Waterloo, Adam distinguished himself, earning a special reward for bravery. He returned home, bitter and disillusioned. War was not glorious, women were ever deceitful, and family could not be relied upon.

Back in England, Adam immersed himself in his sleuthing hobby, attempting to distract himself from his own problems. That is how he meets our heroine, Bri.

Adam carries secrets with him that haunt him daily. His actions are controlled by his cynical view of women. He does not like our heroine. Not at all.

Where, in the odd meanderings of my imagination, did I dream up Adam?

When I "met" Connor and wrote his story, I realized he needed a friend. Not just any friend, a friend who was not very nice to women. How else would Connor's knight errantry assert itself?

So Adam evolved with his bitterness and angst, always letting Connor's love interest know how much he, Adam, despised her. In a way, I suppose he was a minor villain in Connor's love story.

After he met Bri (in Connnor's story, Angel, yet to be released) and acted so strange, it was only natural, I suppose, to expound on that. Their attraction to each other was from the start but their distrust of each other far outweighed that.

Next article: Introductions: Our Heroine, Bri.

*The preceding is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are fictitious or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, to factual events or businesses is coincidental and unintentional.

(c) 2009 Laura J Miller aka Jaimey Grant All rights reserved. No portion of this work may be reproduced in print or electronically without the written permission of the author.

What is the Regency?

Quick definition: Britain, 1811-1820.

Longer definition: In 1811, King George III fell ill, which is a nice way of saying he went insane and could no longer fulfill his duties. His son, the Prince of Wales, was named regent, serving as a proxy ruler. The king died in 1820.

Generally speaking, the Regency period tends to range far more than the nine years it technically was. Many like to include several years before 1800 to nearly the middle of the century. Fashion, politics, culture and general excess were the common factors.

There was also a pervading sense of uncertainty. Napoleon was wreaking havoc all across Europe. The revolution in France had many wondering if the English people would emulate their French counterparts. Riots and general unrest abounded. It was not an easy time nor was it quite as romantic as the novels like to portray.

People of note were Jane Austen, Beau Brummel, Lord Castlereagh, the Duke of Wellington, Lady Jersey, Lord Byron, Lady Caroline Lamb, Princess Lieven and Walter Scott.

Places of note were Almack's Assembly Rooms, Carlton House, Brooks's, White's, Astley's Amphitheatre, Vauxhall Gardens, Tattersalls and Covent Garden.