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Regina is sharing an excerpt with us and giving us some history about married women under English law, as well as single or widowed women. I found this extremely interesting. Thank you, Regina, and welcome!
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Under English law, women were subordinate to their husbands. It
was expected that she was under the “protection and influence of her husband,
her baron, or lord.” The law stated the old adage of “two shall become one.”
She was her husband’s “feme covert.” Any property she owned—real or
personal—came under his control. A married woman could not draft a will or
dispose of any property without her husband’s consent.
Women rarely inherited property. She could inherit “personal”
belongings such as, furniture, jewelry, clothing, moveable goods, etc. But that
does not mean that a woman could NOT inherit real property (meaning land, or
what we now call “real estate”). The practice of primogeniture under English
law presented the oldest son with the real property upon the death of the
father. [Note: Matrilineal primogeniture, or female-preference uterine primogeniture, is a form of
succession practiced in some societies in which the eldest female child
inherits the throne, to the total exclusion of males. The order of succession
to the position of the Rain Queen is an example in an African culture of
matrilineal primogeniture: not only is dynastic descent reckoned through the
female line, but only females are eligible to inherit.] Daughters could only inherit in the absence of a male heir. The
law of intestate primogeniture remained on the statue books in Britain until
the 1925 property legislation simplified and updated England’s archaic law of
real property.
Aware of their daughters’ unfortunate situation, fathers often
provided them with dowries or worked into a prenuptial agreement pin money, the
estate which the wife was to possess for her sole and separate use not subject
to the control of her husband, to provide her with an income separate from his.
In contrast to wives, women who never married or who were
widowed maintained control over their property and inheritance, owned land and
controlled property disposal, since by law any unmarried adult female was
considered to be a feme sole. Some of the peeresses, in their own right had property, as
well as the title which the husband couldn't touch. Still, inheritance through
the female of a peerage by patent was extremely rare and usually
only put into the patent while the 1st peer was alive. Usually, the
patents didn't allow for female inheritance. It was rare for a woman to be able
to inherit a peerage created by patent. The Duke of Marlborough had his patent
changed when it was obvious he would not have a son, but that was a rare
occurrence. Most
females succeeded to a lesser peerage created by writ. Once married, the only
way that women could reclaim property was through widowhood.
The dissolution of a marriage, whether initiated by the husband
or wife, usually left the divorced females impoverished, as the law offered
them no rights to marital property. The 1836 Caroline Norton court case
highlighted the injustice of English property laws, and generated enough
support that eventually resulted in the Married Women’s Property Act.
Lately, England has considered what is cleverly known as the
“Downton Abbey” law. The Bill is so called after the anomaly of female succession at
the heart of ITV’s Downton Abbey, in which the character of Lady Mary, the eldest daughter of
the drama’s fictional earl, was unable to inherit the family seat because it
had to pass to a male heir. The bill adds the rank of “baronets” to those
titles in which females can inherit.
Like many in
the JAFF community, I often write how Anne De Bourgh can inherit Rosings Park.
I do so again in my latest novel, MR. DARCY’S BRIDEs. But how is that possible?
As mentioned above, Anne can inherit if she does not marry. By English law, she
could inherit when she reaches her majority at age 21. I customarily add
something in Sir Lewis’s will that has her wait until she is 25. [Mayhap, Sir
Lewis anticipated Lady Catherine’s “unwillingness” to be removed from the reins
of Rosings Park, and provided Anne a bit of time to find a strong husband who
would depose her ladyship, or some such story line.] Yet, in reality, it is
also possible for Anne to inherit because her father’s title is one of baronet.
The rank
of “baronet” was created by James I, who founded the hereditary Order of
Baronets in England in 1611 to be conferred on 200 gentlemen with large,
profitable estates on the condition they funded the salaries of 30 soldiers for
the war with Ireland. In these early baronetcies, it was written into the
letters patent from the monarch when the titles were created that women could
inherit if there was no male heir. The last baronetess, Dame Anne Maxwell
Macdonald, whose ancestors became baronets in 1628, died in 2011 aged 104.
Therefore, Anne De Bourgh could be the next baronetess of Rosings Park.
Introducing
MR. DARCY’S BRIDE...
I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses.
ELIZABETH BENNET is determined that she will put a stop to her mother’s plans to marry off the eldest Bennet daughter to Mr. Collins, the Longbourn heir, but a man that Mr. Bennet considers an annoying dimwit. Hence, Elizabeth disguises herself as Jane and repeats her vows to the supercilious rector as if she is her sister, thereby voiding the nuptials and saving Jane from a life of drudgery. Yet, even the “best laid plans” can often go awry.
FITZWILLIAM DARCY is desperate to find a woman who will assist him in leading his sister back to Society after Georgiana’s failed elopement with Darcy’s old enemy George Wickham. He is so desperate that he agrees to Lady Catherine De Bourgh’s suggestion that Darcy marry her ladyship’s “sickly” daughter Anne. Unfortunately, as he waits for his bride to join him at the altar, he realizes he has made a terrible error in judgement, but there is no means to right the wrong without ruining his cousin’s reputation. Yet, even as he weighs his options, the touch of “Anne’s” hand upon his sends an unusual “zing” of awareness shooting up Darcy’s arm. It is only when he realizes the “zing” has arrived at the hand of a stranger, who has disrupted his nuptials, that he breathes both a sigh of relief and a groan of frustration, for the question remains: Is Darcy’s marriage to the woman legal?
What if Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet met under different circumstances than those we know from Jane Austen’s classic tale: Circumstances that did not include the voices of vanity and pride and prejudice and doubt that we find in the original story? Their road to happily ever after may not, even then, be an easy one, but with the expectations of others removed from their relationship, can they learn to trust each other long enough to carve out a path to true happiness?
EXCERPT
from MR. DARCY’S BRIDEs (Chapter 18): This scene is Darcy’s threat to Lady
Catherine when his aunt insists that he cannot back out of his marriage to
Anne. [Trust me. Even with Darcy’s commanding tone in this excerpt, Lady
Catherine is not easily put off.]
“Lady
Catherine, sir.” His servant barely had time to open the door before his aunt
strode into the room.
“Mr.
Nathan, have my bags placed in my usual room,” his aunt instructed without so
much as a by-your-leave.
Darcy’s
ire grew quickly. He despised such presumptuousness. “Mr. Nathan, you will
leave her ladyship’s bags upon her coach. And instruct my aunt’s coachman to
remain nearby with her carriage. Lady Catherine will not be staying at Pemberley.”
Mr.
Nathan nodded his understanding and rushed from the room, closing the door
behind him.
“So
this is the welcome I am to receive,” her ladyship harumphed. “Your mother
would be ashamed of you, Darcy.” She sat heavily in an armed chair.
Darcy
remained standing beside his desk. He spoke in clipped tones. “I was
considering something similar as to Lady Anne’s reaction to your poor manners,
Aunt. I can guarantee that George Darcy would never have tolerated your
ordering his servants about, and neither will I. This is Pemberley, madam, not
Rosings Park. I am the master here.”
His
aunt snarled, “I see your insolence continues.”
“And
I see you still think that the world will bend to your whims,” he countered.
Rather
than to fuel their standoff with more inflammatory accusations, Lady Catherine
switched tactics, a devise he had observed her employ previously. Darcy had
always thought her doing so was an intelligent means for a woman to earn
agreement over business matters in a man’s world, but her diversion would not
work on him. “Is that girl in this house?” she demanded.
Darcy
propped a hip on the corner of his desk and attempted to appear casual when he
responded, “I fear Georgiana is not at home at this time. My sister will be
sorry to have missed your call.”
Lady
Catherine’s chin rose in stubbornness. “So that is the way you wish to discuss
this matter. Very well. Then I shall be more direct. Did you bring Miss
Elizabeth Bennet to Pemberley when you left Matthew Allard’s estate in
Scotland?”
Darcy
schooled his features. Someone would pay dearly for sharing his business with
Lady Catherine. “I am not in the habit of discussing my personal life with
anyone, and you of all people should realize I am more Darcy than Fitzwilliam.
Your line of questions will not win you my favor.”
“I
see you mean to protect this upstart! Are you so enthralled with the woman’s
arts and allurements that you cannot see reason? If you fancy her, Darcy, then
make her your mistress. Anne will ignore your indiscretions. I will instruct my
daughter in the ways of men. Anne can be your wife while this strumpet can
suffer your lust.”
His
aunt’s description of aristocratic life sickened Darcy. “I have no intention of
marrying Anne. You may beg. You may threaten. You may cajole. You may bargain.
But I will never change my mind. I permitted you to use the memory of my dear
mother to coerce me into agreeing to marry Anne, but Fate had other ideas. Anne
was late, and I spoke my vows to another.”
“We
both know those vows are not legal,” she drawled in warning tones.
Darcy
had heard from his solicitor regarding those first vows exchanged with
Elizabeth, and as expected, his first marriage to the woman had proved void.
Mr. Jaffray had filed the papers to have the ceremony declared null. “Such
knowledge does not change my resolve. I will not marry Anne.”
“Would
you prefer that I instruct Anne in suing Miss Bennet for criminal
conversation?” she challenged.
“Although
neither Anne or I could officially testify in such a suit, the truth would win
out. A skilled barrister can make certain all the facts are relayed to the
judge. The lady in question could not have claimed my affections away from your
daughter, for beyond a fondness between cousins, I never loved Anne.” He would
not say that Elizabeth Bennet held his heart in her delicate hands. “Moreover,
as I did not hold the lady’s acquaintance until several hours after that
morning at St. George, it would be impossible for her to draw me away with her
arts and allurements. All such a suit would do would be to bring ruin upon
Anne’s head and mar my family name. You would have your vengeance and little
else to keep you warm in the winter. No man would ever claim Anne after such a
public display, but I suppose that is what you wish. You wish Anne forever to
remain under your control.”
“Anne’s
dowry of thirty thousand pounds can cover any flaw you name,” Lady Catherine
argued.
“Yes,
I suppose her dowry and the promise of Rosings Park can conceal all but one of
my cousin’s failings: that of possessing an overbearing and controlling mother.
Only the most desperate of men would consider aligning his name with Sir
Lewis’s daughter. You would be willing to turn over Anne’s future to a man of
no principles. That fact should surprise me, but it does not,” he said in sad
tones. “Such a man would run through every penny of Anne’s inheritance, leaving
you and your daughter as Matlock’s poor relations. I suppose that must be my
justice.”
“You
think me so cold-hearted?” his aunt demanded. “Everything I do, I do for Anne.”
“You
may tell yourself these lies,” Darcy cautioned, “but your family and soon
society will recognize you as a bitter, vindictive woman.” He sighed heavily.
“If you persist in this madness, I will sue Anne for breach of promise. Her
fortune will be greatly reduced, for I will win my suit. There were at least
two dozen witnesses that can swear to the fact that she left me at the altar.
If not for the false exchange of vows, I would have been long gone from the
church by the time Anne arrived. You, too, would have been gone, likely looking
for your wayward daughter to strangle her, as you attempted to do when she did
arrive. Are you willing to tarnish your daughter’s name twice in the court of
public notice? Poor Anne who has never had a Season. Who has never been
permitted the freedom to form a friendship. Who is poorly educated beyond what
her governess provided her. That Anne will be irretrievably ruined.” His tone
held the warning of winter’s embrace. “I do not wish to see Anne suffer, but I
will not permit you to injure an innocent just to puff up your consequence.”
“An
innocent?” his aunt accused in her most implacable voice. “The woman traveled
with you to Scotland where she passed herself off as Mrs. Darcy. You see, Mr.
and Mrs. Allard were quite pleased to tell my man of your indiscretions. Allard
was most displeased that you withdrew your financial support of his latest
venture.”
Allard’s
financial future would be nonexistent when Darcy finished with the man. He
would permit no one to bandy about Elizabeth’s name in a vile manner. “We could
debate this matter all afternoon,” he announced as he stood. “I believe
somewhere within your hard resolve you want what is best for Anne, and I am
flattered that you think me a suitable match for my cousin, but I wish to marry
in affection, and my feelings for Anne are more brotherly than those of a
potential husband.” A profound sadness crept into his tone when Darcy spoke of
his cousin’s situation. He should have done more to assist Anne before things
had reached this turning point. Like most in the family, he had thought all
would change when Anne inherited Sir Lewis’s properties and fortune. He had
never considered the fact that Lady Catherine would do all she could to shove
Anne out Rosings Park’s door in order to maintain control of all of Sir Lewis’s
holdings. “Do you not wish something more for your daughter and your dearest
sister’s only son that a marriage of convenience?”
“I
wish to see Anne well settled,” she declared in undisguised contempt.
Darcy
hesitated briefly before accepting the gauntlet. His aunt would force him to be
ruthless. “Then you leave me no choice, madam. If you force me into marrying
Anne, I will leave you with little more than a humble cottage and a pair of
servants to tend you for the remainder of your days. Anne will be five and
twenty in two months. I will postpone the wedding until your daughter inherits
Rosings Park per Sir Lewis’s will. All of it will belong to her, and as the
estate and the fortune are entailed upon the female line, when we marry, as
Anne’s husband, I will have control of it all. I have no intention of bringing
Anne to child, so your many manipulations will be for naught. As you say, I
will take my lust elsewhere. At Anne’s death, I will sell Rosings Park and all
it holds piece-by piece, until nothing remains of Sir Lewis De Bourgh’s legacy.
All you hold most dear will be scattered among the households of those with the
funds to purchase it. I will destroy everything you have ever loved: Rosings
Park and Anne. And each day of your miserable life you will know that I did
these things in retribution for your foolish sense of consequence.” Needing to
be away from his aunt, Darcy started for the door. “Good day, your ladyship. I
will have Mr. Nathan see you out.” With that, he was gone, never looking back
to view the look of astonishment upon his aunt’s features.
Now for the
GIVEAWAY: I have two eBook copies of MR. DARCY’S BRIDEs available to those who
comment below. The giveaway will end at midnight EDST on Tuesday, August 22.
*****
I'm so glad that you visited here during your busy tour, Regina. I enjoyed your post and loved the excerpt! Darcy was more ruthless with Lady Catherine than he is often shown to be. I liked seeing him put her in her place! This is an interesting premise and I can't wait to read more. Keep writing and giving us your great books. The reviews coming in on this one are excellent. Congratulations!
Dear Readers, don't forget to comment for a chance to win one of the two eBook copies of Mr. Darcy's Brides. Good luck to all of you.
That's a hard acting Darcy
ReplyDeleteI doubt Lady Catherine would understand if he used kid gloves with her.
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Susan. Good luck!
DeleteGreat excerpt! I was hoping their wedding could be valid. But I am sure they'll marry anyway! Looking forward to reading more. It sounds wonderful! Thanks for the giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is the secret of the small "s" in the title. It takes a bit of time to get the wedding vows to stick.
DeleteToo funny! I never noticed the small 's'. I went back and looked after reading this and there it was. Well, I will not be outdone. I have now added the tiny 's' to the post! LOL I apologize, Regina, for not accurately listing the title of your book! :)
DeleteI assumed your cataracts were blocking your view, Janet. LOL! The sure as heck are messing with mine.
DeleteWow! Ruthless Darcy! So good to see someone put Lady Catherine in her place. Now I'm wondering what Anne is doing and thinking through all of this.
ReplyDeleteAnne changes over the course of the novel. Her transformation is not complete at the end, but the reader can see her progress.
DeleteInteresting info about Anne. I, too, wonder what she is thinking.
DeleteYou always share such interesting information with us!
ReplyDeleteIt is my "duty" as a teacher, Ginna. LOL!
DeleteDoesn't she! I'm glad that is your duty, Regina! lol
DeleteJanet,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more when you stated that this depiction of Darcy is more ruthless and determined that we've ever seen him before.
It was great to see him confront and confound Lady C. and attempt to play her at her own game! When faced with such opposition,she might be wise to retreat of perhaps even declare defeat!!!
Yes,this is certainly an interesting premise!
I'm looking forward to discovering what befalls ODC and if Lady C will capitulate and accept Darcy's decision!
Best of luck with this book,Regina!
In truth, Mary, I chuckled when you suggested that Lady Catherine might "capitulate." The excerpt above is not her last encounter with Darcy in this book.
DeleteGlad you agree, Mary. I can't wait to see what else he has to say to her, especially since this is not their last encounter.
DeleteOooh that little 's'!! I'm so intrigued! Can't wait to read it! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI have said this previously, Claire, but you may not have seen it, the small "s" was purposeful. Darcy and Elizabeth marry several times, but not all the exchanges of vows stick.
DeleteGlad you stopped by Claire. Good luck in the giveaway.
DeleteWell that told Lady Catherine! If it didn't mean Darcy marrying Anne I would love to see that happen.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that Darcy and Elizabeth are not actually married then, I hope the next one is legal (well first I hope they realise they can't live without each other!)
Love this excerpt Regina thankyou.
The need to get the vows right is the reason for the small "s" in the title, Glynis.
DeleteDidn't it tell her! lol This does appear to be a tangled web!
DeleteGreat premise on this one and oh boy, Lady C causes the sparks to fly. :)
ReplyDeleteLady Catherine has lived in a man's world too long, Sophia. She thinks they will do her bidding simply because she wishes it. OOPS!
DeleteLady C is good at making the sparks fly, isn't she? I have a feeling she will make more fly before it is all said and done.
DeleteLike "when pigs fly," Janet?
DeleteFascinating bits of history that you always provide us! Thank you! Didn't read the excerpt as I have the e-book. Hope to read it in the near future!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't she give us the best history tidbits! This lady does much research and her books show it! :)
DeleteI love sharing how history must be a secondary character in the story, Carole.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Regina, I love you sharing your historical knowledge. I'm really enjoying your new book, I'm in the middle of reading it. Congratulations on the book release.
ReplyDeletePlease, leave me out of the giveaway.
Glad to hear you are enjoying the book, Kate. I look forward to starting it myself!
DeleteI appreciate your patronage, Kate. It always pleases me when you comment on a post on my blog.
DeleteWonderful excerpt. Darcy has thrown everything in Lady C's face but that is all she would understand. I loved the history lesson. Quite interesting, Thank you for sharing. I already have the ebook. So please do not enter me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Debbie. Wasn't the history excellent reading? I loved the excerpt too. Did you read the one at Rita's blog, From Pemberley to Milton? I loved it too!
DeleteThank you for your kind patronage, Deborah Ann. It is wonderful to hear from you.
DeleteCongrats for releasing yet another gem, Regina, this sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read 'Mr Darcy's Brides'!! Thanks for this great post and the wealth of background information, it was a fascinating read.
I am glad you joined us today, Joana. I have missed talking to you.
DeleteHi Joana. Glad you stopped by. I just finished 'Mr. Darcy's Brides' and loved it. I think you will too. Mr. Darcy was swoonworthy.
DeleteNow, come on Darcy, don't hold back! Tell Lady C. how you REALLY feel!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a fascinating excerpt and the historical context, Regina. Love hearing about the research and historical background to a piece of fiction and we always know that we'll get that from you. This one's already on my Wish List to add to my Regina Jeffers collection. I've got all of your others, some of them in three different formats!
Good luck with the new book!
You have always been most kind to me, Anji. I am humbled by your thoughtfulness.
DeleteI think you will love this one, too, Anji! I did! I think I have all of her books too!:)
DeleteAnother fascinating historical tidbit as always, Regina. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I don't believe Darcy will be that evil as to go through with his threats. I see him as just blackmailing Lady Catherine to back down. We shall see.
ReplyDeleteIf her ladyship threaten Elizabeth or Georgiana, then Darcy could be quite forceful.
DeleteThose are definitely the two women that Darcy would defend with force, if need be. Excellent book, Regina!
DeleteThanks for stopping by Sylvia.
I want to read this book! I have been following the story on several blogs, but this one gave me a good insight. I now see that Anne was late and Elizabeth ended up at the altar I guess before Mr. Collins' time to marry Jane! Thank you for the informative information about marriage and especially for the excerpt. And, thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteEva, you must have missed the excerpt where Darcy speaks to Mr. Gardiner. Collins and Jane were to be married at a different church than was Darcy and Anne. Unfortunately, both churches have "Saint" in their names and are located near the Thames.
DeleteI hope you get to read it soon, Eva! It is an excellent book. You will love Darcy!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLady Catherine always puts on a good show haha
ReplyDeleteHi Laurie. I'm glad you visited. Yes, Lady Catherine does like to tell everyone what to do, doesn't she!
DeleteWe all have a relative like Lady Catherine.
ReplyDelete