The Mad Earl's Bride

The Mad Earl's Bride 

My novella, The Mad Earl's Bride, is set between the time of Lord of Scoundrels and The Last Hellion.  Like those two books, it's stayed in print for lo these many years.  However, it has always been part of an anthology, —first, Three Weddings and a Kiss, then Three Times a Bride. 

But earlier this summer, Avon brought the story out as a stand alone eBook, with an atmospheric new cover.

For a time, the book's been available at the nice price of $1.99.  I'm not sure how long this will continue—so if you were thinking of getting a copy, now might be the time!

The Bride in White

In response to a reader comment regarding a previous post, I’m doing connected blogs.  There’s more about white wedding dresses at Two Nerdy History Girls.

This is an 1831 white wedding dress, one of several examples I've found of white wedding dresses before Queen Victoria wore white at her wedding (10 February 1840).

The description comes from La Belle assemblée: or, Court and fashionable magazine; containing interesting and original literature, and records of the beau-monde; PublisherJ. Bell, 1831

Fashions for March, 1831
French fashions. WEDDING DRESS.

A dress of blonde de Chantilly, over white satin; the corsage of the lace dress, cut low and square round the bosom, is ornamented with a lappel which forms points upon the shoulders ; the points falling over a single row of superb blond lace, which covers the short béret sleeve of the white satin under-dress. Two very deep flounces, so arranged that one falls a little over the other, reach from the bottom of the skirt considerably above the knee, and are surmounted by a very rich embroidery. The wedding veil, also of blonde de Chantilly, is arranged in the drapery style at the back of the head, and the corners, brought round the base of the bows of hair on the summit of the head, are attached by a nuptial garland of orange flowers. A bandeau of emeralds set in gold goes round the forehead; earrings, necklace, and bracelets to correspond.

The Bride returns

Let’s face it. My brain simply isn’t big enough to finish writing a book, blog every other day or so at Two Nerdy History Girls and blog here, too.

Now, though, I’ve sent off the copyedited manuscript (more about that later)—and the experience may well provide blog fodder. That leaves me in the stage of staring into space, wondering what the next book will be about.

So here’s some news.

Once upon a time, between Lord of Scoundrels and The Last Hellion, I wrote a novella, “The Mad Earl’s Bride,” for an anthology titled Three Weddings and a Kiss.

Avon has reissued “The Mad Earl’s Bride” along with works by Catherine Anderson and Samantha James, in a handsome new volume titled Three Times a Bride, which will be out in May.

You can learn more about early 19th century weddings and dresses here.

The wedding dress pictured below is from the 1829 Ackermann’s Repository, as is the description.

WEDDING DRESS.

A ROUND dress of Brussels lace over a slip of white gros de Tours ; the body of the slip is cut low and square ; the corsage of the dress is made up to the throat and fastens behind, it sets close to the shape round the upper part of the bust, but has a little fulness at the bottom of the waist. Long sleeve à l’Imbecille over the manche à la bêret of the slip. A biais of white lace, finished at the upper edge by a white satin rouleau, goes round the skirt, and is surmounted by an embroidery of uncommon depth and beauty. A Turkish pelisse of white satin is worn over the lace dress; it is open in front, and the corsage open before and behind falls over the bust in a deep fold, which is divided on the shoulder; a satin rouleau edges the front and corsage of the pelisse; the bottom of which has no other trimming than an ourlet of uncommon breadth. The hair is arranged in front in the Madona style, and disposed in full bows on the crown of the head. Head-dress, a garland of flowers (orange) and a Brussels lace veil; pearl necklace, from which is suspended a diamond cross; diamond earrings ; gold bracelets, à la Grecque, with diamond clasps ; white satin slippers laced in the sandal style; white kid gloves.