Wednesday Regency: Christmas traditions--Wassail

Christmas is just around the corner! (Ducking now--anyone else not remotely ready?) At least my Christmas release is. Improper Christmas is Lillian Norwood's story. Lillian is a minor character from Improper Match who's had a very hard life and is definitely not appreciated.

One Christmas tradition is wassail (pronounced like fossil so I now hear wossal in Chekhov's voice: Nuclear Wossal...and now you do, too. You can listen here at about the 1:18 mark).

Wassail is hot mulled cider. See random picture from the internet I pasted in here. Maybe I'll try it this Christmas and see how the family likes it!

I've see a couple similar explanations for where wassail came from, all form the Anglo-Saxons and involving a toast “Waes Hael” or “Be Whole” at the start of their new year.

Holiday Wassail
1 gallon apple cider
1 large can pineapple juice (unsweetened)
3/4 cup tea (can use herb tea)
Place in a cheesecloth sack:
1 Tablespoon whole cloves
1 Tablespoon whole allspice
2 sticks cinnamon
This is great cooked in a crock pot. Let it simmer very slowly for 4 to 6 hours. You can add water if it evaporates too much. Your home will smell wonderful! Serve warm, garnish with orange slices.
Serves 20.

Improper Christmas

“Miss Norwood, I presume,” the woman said before Lillian hit upon a polite conversational opening.

“Yes,” Lillian answered, only slightly surprised. “How — ”

“Oh” — she waved a hand — “you’ve been the chatter all around the village. Lord Granville’s ward, come to live in Chesham.”

She turned slightly and guided Lillian away from the fire and the Lansdowne sisters. She didn’t slip her hand through Lillian’s arm in an overly friendly manner, but did project an air of intimacy nonetheless.

“Most of the chatter is simply speculation,” she continued. “Though I am acquainted with Lord Granville. And while you and I have never met, I have heard your name.”

Lillian nodded stiffly. What had this woman heard? Did she know all of Lillian’s past? Did she know Lillian should not be here, at this ball? That her father’s death was not as long ago as she may have implied?

She refrained from muttering about gossips and rumors and remained silent. It was her only defense against such things anymore.

“You have me at a disadvantage,” Lillian said nonchalantly. And with a possible hint of ice. Just a hint. “I do not know your name.”

The woman’s eyes, alive with humor and secrets, watched her for several long moments. Then she smiled with a wide, charming curve of her lips that made Lillian want to trust her. At the very least, she wanted to know this woman who interacted so casually with Chesham society.

“My name is Camilla Primsby,” she said with confidence, as if Lillian ought to know who she was. “And do forgive the intrusion, but no young woman should be subjected to the incessant chatter of the Lansdowne sisters.”

Lillian’s lips twitched, but she didn’t give into the temptation of a smile. Mrs. Primsby acted kind enough, but Lillian knew the sort. Most likely, she wanted to be the first with all the gossip about the new woman in the village.

“Mrs. Miller believes I should make an appropriate companion to the Lansdowne sisters,” Lillian said in that same unflappable voice.

She began to wonder if it was possible for her to speak in any other manner. She missed the days of laughter and teasing with people she believed to be friends. Lillian bit back an angry sigh. That was in the past, dead and buried.

“Oh dear heavens,” Mrs. Primsby said, and she sounded truly horrified.

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Wednesday Regency: Banking

There's a scene in Improper Match where Selina needs to take money from the bank. However, women weren't allowed to do so. Even though two separate banks were owned and very successfully run by women, the laws of the time forbade them from actually retrieving their own money (theirs or their husband's) themselves.

I know, I know. But this was 200+ years ago. And for those who love the Regency Era, we love how our women work around these rules!

I learned much of this from Michelle Styles's guest post, but then did my own research. It's so interesting, how these brilliant women worked around the laws of the time.

Sarah Villiers, Countess of Jersey and patronesses of Almack's also happened to inherit primary legatee of the bank Child & Co from her maternal grandfather, Robert Child.

Harriot Beauclerk, Duchess of St Albans, actress on Drury Lane was also the wife of banker Thomas Coutts and upon his death, inherited his entire fortune including controlling interest in Coutts Bank where the royal family continued to bank today.

Upon Harriot's death, "her property and fortune went to her step-granddaughter, carefully selected as heir after careful scrutiny of the possible recipients, who as a condition of the inheritance adapted her name to Angela Burdett-Coutts." (wiki page)

Wednesday Regency: Improper Match and the Old Bailey #RegencyRomance

Back in April I wrote a little about the research I did into the Old Baily for this book. Seriously, BBC TV is great for this kind of research! Made it much easier to understand.

Garrow's Law was not only fascinating for its historical and legal drama but so very helpful on the writing front. If you have the time (and can find it, I think I watched it on Amazon Prime) it's worth it. The lead is also the actor who played Mark Latimer (the dad) in Broadchurch.

I also read a little from Old Bailey Online. Not nearly as exciting I'm sorry to say but helpful for procedures.

I wanted to add in all the research I did to Improper Match, but that wasn't the point of Edmund and Selina's story.

The daughter of a successful merchant, Selina Lyndell never expects to marry an earl. But that’s exactly what is about to happen. Their first meeting is entirely unconventional but the moment Edmund Pembroke, the Earl of Granville, lays eyes on Selina, he’s enchanted.

Selina, the daughter of a successful merchant, is new money and never dreams to aspire as high as an earl for a match. But when Edmund insists on courting her, she tries her best to set her fears aside and enjoy their whirlwind courtship.

But sometimes the fates are cruel and a vicious turn of events shatters all she holds dear.

Edmund isn’t letting Selina go without a fight, be that on the streets of London, at the Old Baily, or against the ton’s vicious gossip. Nothing will stop him from clearing the name of the woman he loves.

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Improper Match: Scandalous Encounters 2 #RegencyRomance

The daughter of a successful merchant, Selina Lyndell never expects to marry an earl. But that’s exactly what is about to happen. Their first meeting is entirely unconventional but the moment Edmund Pembroke, the Earl of Granville, lays eyes on Selina, he’s enchanted.

Selina, the daughter of a successful merchant, is new money and never dreams to aspire as high as an earl for a match. But when Edmund insists on courting her, she tries her best to set her fears aside and enjoy their whirlwind courtship.

But sometimes the fates are cruel and a vicious turn of events shatters all she holds dear.

Edmund isn’t letting Selina go without a fight, be that on the streets of London, at the Old Baily, or against the ton’s vicious gossip. Nothing will stop him from clearing the name of the woman he loves.

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Excerpt:
Edmund turned and walked into the Bond Street Bazaar, a large indoor market with high ceilings and wide aisles. And one of the few places on Bond Street he thought he’d find a gift refined enough for his sister; he hadn’t the time to commission anything. Along the sides, vendors called out a variety of wares, everything from fabrics to books to ribbons. It was a veritable woman’s utopia. If not necessarily his.

He didn’t exactly know what he planned to buy Octavia for her birthday. And the bazaar was a cavernous array of confusion.

It teemed with shoppers haggling and inspecting the various trinkets as the afternoon sun streamed through the skylights. The entrance smelled of too many perfumes, but wasn’t quite the assault on the senses as Hamilton was. Edmund quickly and easily moved past the first few stalls, sidestepping the crowds and the more overenthusiastic merchants.

Left of the labyrinth that made up the bazaar were several flower vendors with a small laughing girl on the counter. To the right, Edmund spotted a perfumer surrounded by a gaggle of well-dressed women. He hesitated for a moment, eying the perfume bottles over the women’s heads.

No perfume. Not today.

Turning in the opposite direction, Edmund sidestepped a woman with three children and a yapping dog and strode deeper into the bazaar. Several men in uniform walked slowly along the stalls with several women around them. Edmund easily stepped out of their path only to find himself directly in front of a couple clearly in the midst of an argument.

It was easier to navigate Napoleon’s cannons than it was to walk through this bazaar.

Of course he chose one of the busier days to shop for Octavia. On the second floor balconies small groups of well-dressed gentlemen lounged lazily on the many chairs, talking loudly. He dismissed the men, but wondered if any interesting artwork hung along the second floor today.
Maybe he’d look after he found Octavia her gift. He’d put it off long enough as it was.

He wandered past a laughing group of women and up to one of the booksellers. Octavia had a wide range of reading interests, however, and though he knew she’d be pleased with a book, Edmund quickly dismissed purchasing her one as a gift.

He stood just at the bookseller’s and surveyed the bazaar. Maybe he should ask one of the ladies to help. What he should’ve done was drag Hamilton with him. If anyone was an expert at finding the perfect gift for a woman, it was Hamilton.

Edmund wondered if his very important meeting was with another woman or actual business. Either way, he was on his own.

With a sigh, he crossed from the booksellers to a line of merchants devoid of customers. Edmund scanned through the ribbons and fabrics very much out of his depth and not at all interested in the wares.
Until he spotted the hair combs.

Laid out on velvet trays, they sparkled in the afternoon sun. Some were silver; a few boasted gold accents or brightly colored stones. Each one held its own unique design, filigree or a starburst of pearls. Edmund picked up an ivory comb with garnets shaped into a flower.

 Hair combs seemed the perfect gift. Octavia wore them constantly.
“Quite the extensive collection,” Edmund said to the man behind the counter. Then, positive he’d regret admitting as much he confessed, “I may be out of my depth in this choice.”