Dearest Mother,
This is a difficult letter to write since I have done something very foolish. Please do not think from my actions that I in any way disavowed your upbringing or teachings. I was merely not in a frame of mind at the time to consider my words.
First, it saddens me to inform you that the driver and footman you hired to accompany me and my maid on the journey to visit Sybil was killed in a carriage crash. The carriage was also destroyed in the accident.
Alice and I are unhurt, however. We met two lovely gentlemen on the road, professors at the University of Scotland, who assisted us to reach the nearest inn. Mother, you will never guess, but one of the professors is cousin to Lady Margaret’s husband, Laird Duncan McKinnon! I was quite relieved to discover that since Professor McKinnon offered—well actually I asked—his company for the remainder of the journey to Sybil’s home.
It was while traveling with the professor that my situation… changed. It appears somehow in the confusion of trying to obtain a room at an inn that was quite full, I inadvertently… Well, I accidentally…
I wish there was another way to say this. But, I unintentionally…
Mother – I am married.
Love,
Sarah
A bit of history on ‘irregular marriages’ from Wikipedia:
Under early modern Scots law, there were three forms of “irregular marriage” which can be summarized as the agreement of the couple to be married and some form of witnessing or evidence of such. An irregular marriage could result from mutual agreement, by a public promise followed by consummation, or by cohabitation and repute. All but the last of these were abolished by the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1939, from 1 January 1940. Prior to this act, any citizen was able to witness a public promise… A marriage by “cohabitation with repute” as it was known in Scots Law could still be formed; popularly described as “by habit and repute”, with repute being the crucial element to be proved. In 2006, Scotland was the last European jurisdiction to abolish this old style common-law marriage or “marriage by cohabitation with repute”, by the passing of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_in_Scotland.
If you lived in the Regency period, what would you hate the most? What would you like the most? One commenter will win a $5 Amazon gift card, along with an ebook copy of the USA Today best-selling book The Elusive Wife. That book is the first in the Marriage Mart Mayhem series. If the winner has already read it, they can select any other book in the series.
About The Highlander’s Accidental Marriage
On the way to visit her twin sister in the Highlands, Lady Sarah Lacey makes a huge mistake which has the ability to change her life’s plans… Now what does she do?
Lady Sarah Lacey is on her way to the Highlands to visit her twin sister, Lady Sybil MacBride, when she meets with an accident. Stranded on the road, she encounters Professor Braeden McKinnon, traveling to his home near Sarah’s destination. She cajoles him into escorting her and her maid.
As they take to the road together, Braeden finds the fiery Lady Sarah a handful of trouble. But nothing prepares him for the words she utters in front of witnesses that binds them together in matrimony. Waiting for word that he has been selected to work on an archaeological dig in Rome, he had no intention of taking a wife for a long time. Now that she has accidentally married them, however, perhaps it would not be such a bad thing, after all.
Except Sarah has no intention of being anyone’s wife. She has other plans…
http://calliehutton.com/the-highlanders-accidental-marriage-marriage-mart-mayhem-book-6/
Excerpt
She smiled at him. “Yes. I am ready.” Without another word, she sashayed over to his horse and stood next to it, her eyebrows raised. “Well. Are we leaving?”
Professor McKinnon had to shut his mouth, which hung open. He stomped over and, grasping her waist, flung her onto the horse’s back. She immediately began to slide to the other side, the weight of the wet clothes pulling her over. He reached out and grabbed her, tugging her the other way. Her arms flailing, she slid toward him and fell off, landing on him, sending both of them into the mud.
She lay sprawled on top of his muscular body, not more than an inch from his surprised expression. Mud splattered his spectacles as well as the rest of his face. Unable to help herself, she burst out laughing. He glowered at her and then his muscles relaxed, a slight smile teasing his lips which turned into a grin. “I’d love to lie here with ye on top of me, lass, but I dinna think we’ll get very far if ye do. ’Tis not fond of an audience, I am.”
About the Author
USA Today best selling author of The Elusive Wife, Callie Hutton writes both Western Historical and Regency romance, with “historic elements and sensory details” (The Romance Reviews). Callie lives in Oklahoma with several rescue dogs, her daughter, son, daughter-in-law, twin grandbabies (thankfully all not in the same house), and her top cheerleader husband of thirty-nine years. Callie loves to hear from readers, and would welcome you as a friend on Facebook. You can contact her through her website: www.calliehutton.com.
If you would like to keep informed on sales, contests and new releases, sign up for her newsletter.
2016 releases
Stephen’s Bride, April
Wild Western Women Boxed Set, Volume 3, April
The Earl’s Return, Marriage Mart Mayhem #7, August
Wild Western Women Christmas Boxed Set, October
The Christmas Wager, Marriage Mart Mayhem novella, November
The Matchmaker Series, Book One, December
I think that the restrictions of society would be horrible & speaking of restrictions I’d hate the corsets too.
I’m quite sure I would enjoy having servants to cater to my every need – yes I’d be rich.
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I don’ think I would care for those corsets, either! Thanks for stopping by, Mary
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Sarah and Braeden are great characters. I’m anxious to read about their romance!
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I had fun writing them.
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I wouldn’t like that I had to be chaperoned all the time and that even a quick kiss meant that you were compromised if caught.
I would love the glittering balls and beautiful gowns.
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The restrictions of the Regency period is what makes the stories fun. Trying to get that ‘kiss without being seen. thanks for stopping by, Teri.
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I wouldn’t like some of the restrictions placed on women. I’d like clothing & country parties.
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Those restrictions would be hard to overcome, that’s for sure, especially for today’ modern woman.
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I love the letter to her mother, a delight taste!
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It would be hard to tell you mother you accidentally married someone.
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The difficulty in attaining a functional education would be the worst for me.
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Their education was mostly on how to embroider, waterpaint, play the pianoforte, dance, etc. They didn’t have too much learning on things we take for granted today, that’s for sure. Thanks for stopping by Julie.
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I would hate all the restrictions placed on women.
I would enjoy having servants and going to balls, etc.
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I agree, Cathy. Those restrictions would drive me crazy, which is why most of my heroines don’t obey them all.
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On a day to day basis, I’d hate the lack of central heating and cooling the most. If anyone I loved was ill, however, it would be “modern medicine” that I’d be missing most! The clothes and the balls would probably be what I liked the most.
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I would love dressing up for balls, also. Everything was so elegant
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Hi Callie,
I read the excerpt of The Highlander’s Accidental Marriage. I’m sold!!
Chloe
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I hope you enjoy it, Chloe. thanks for stopping by
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Oh Callie! I love that letter to Lady Sarah Lacey’s Mom! Can you imagine the reaction that she must have had she she read that? After the blood returned to the parts of her body necessary to think and move – I’m sure she did both – moved and did so with a vengeance! Probably thinking how swiftly she could see to her daughter’s welfare and getting her husband and herself to Scottland was priority!
As far as what I would have hated about the regency period – there would have been many possibilities. I would have hated that children not wanted – byblows, as they were called, were often poor and cast aside. These children were innocents and had no rights at all to the estates of their parent- even if that parent was known. Truly that would be wrong. Today that happens- but usually it is when the parent is unknown. Children that can prove parentage have some rights. And while I am on the subject of children, I hate the way the children were used – as chimney sweeps and pick pockets, and other lewd and in dangerous occupantations. There was no protection. Children were not valued.
What I love about the period is the rich changes in history that took place. There are so many things that advanced during this time. So much changed. There were advances in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science. Much if it happening as a result of the brutal war with Britain and of course, with the War of 1812. The fashions were simpler for women and so very nice for men. I also have to put in that I do love the close-fitting legging-like pant that men wore. It might have been nice had that fashion persisted through time. (😜). Of course, not all men are candidates. It would be a matter of taste. There you are. Hope this helps. Thank you for the wonderful books! Loved the book about Lady Sarah!
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I meant the war with France. Sorry.
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Yes the children were certainly not cherished among the poor. Also, I hate that illegitmate children were shunned. They had no say in how they were born. It wasn’t their fault!
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I like loved this book!
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Loved the book!
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Thanks Lori. I had a lot of fun writing it. It wasn’t too easy writing a genius since I’m not one, lol
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I would enjoy the beautiful dresses and the privileges of the rich and affluent. I would not want the restrictions that young women were subject to.
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I imagine it would be nice to be rich. But then it would be nice to be rich in our time, too, lol
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I would not like ( No Modern Conveniences ) I would love the simplicity and the clothes and styles Thanks for the chance to win the book looks really good Thanks for sharing
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Yes the clothes do seem pretty simplified, but lovely at the same time
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I would hate no having mordern conveniences and i would Love the styles and clothing iamabho (at) gmail.com
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I think I would hate not being able to express my ideas and opinions openly and I would have loved the balls and dresses. Always thinking that I belonged to high society. If not I think being poor that time was really scary
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I would hate not being able to speak my mind and express my opinions and I would love the sumptuous balls and dresses.This is if I was nobility. I am afraid that being poor at that time was really scary
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Yes I imagine being poor back in those times was pretty horrible.
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I would hate the inconvenience of a horse and carriage I much prefer to he swiftness of a car. I would love being treated like a lady. Having my chair pulled out for me,having my arm taken to be escorted
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Those manners were very nice, and sadly missing in today’s world
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I’d hate the restrictions put on females of the time and (if I were time travelling back) the lack of modern conveniences. I love the letter! I can only imagine how hard it would be to write a letter like that. 🙂
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Yes, the restrictions were pretty tough, but they found their way around them. At least on my books, anyway,
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I just have to ask…What is a dentury?
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It’s a typo. Supposed to be century. But I haven’t found a way to change it.
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I would hate that a woman had no rights. I would love going to the opera and watching everyone else in thier box’s mostly the ROUGES
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I re-read the article, Susana and missed it. Where does it say ‘dentury?’ Maybe I can change it?
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Yes I would love watching a few rouges myself, lol
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I would miss modern medicine. I can’t imagine childbirth. Yikes! I would love to attend a ball, with a beautiful dress, and dancing.
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Yes on the childbirth thing. And the death rate for mothers was high. A lot of times only because the attending midwife or whoever didn’t do something as simple as washing her hands.
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Historical romance novels are a favourite of mine to read. In the Regency era stories, I really enjoy the way characters manage to overcome the challenges they face. The class disparity and rigid conventions are what I hate most. Being a woman in that time period could not have been easy, rich or not. What I like the most is the notion of being a hostess of parties, dancing at the balls, wearing beautiful gowns and leaving a legacy, with my husband, of compassion and love.
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Yes, dancing all night at a ball in a beautiful gown sounds something like Cinderella. We all grew up with that imagine in our minds.
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I would hate the hygiene. I like my longer showers and my modern female conviences. I can’t imagine dealing with “course” then.
I would love the dresses and the corsets. Yes I know sounds odd but I do like them.
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I agree, actually. I think the corsets and dresses of the time were very feminine and graceful. Something so lacking today.
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I would hate the restrictions society placed on women, but I would have loved the slower pace of life.
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I would love the dresses but hate the restrictive society rules placed on women.
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I would hate the restrictions placed upon me by Society. Even though the penchant for gossip is still around, at least it does not ruin a person now.
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miss modern plumbing
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I’d miss indoor plumbing, definitely and the benefits of modern medicine.
But I so love the manners and good etiquette of those times.
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