There is always more to the story than just what
ends up between the pages. This page takes a behind the scenes look
at Stealing the Bride including
research I did while writing the book, character tidbits, and more.
Happy reading! ~Elizabeth
avon books
ISBN: 0-38082-090-0
June 24, 2003
Sometimes when you are writing a book, a single character sneaks up on you and boldly demands that their story be told next. When I was writing One Night of Passion, I hadn't really given much thought to the character of Temple, Colin's rakish cousin. But from the moment he stepped on the page, larger than life and so very charming, it was only a matter of time before this Clark Gable and Cary Grant all rolled up into one would be whispering his secrets into my ear. So it was hardly a surprise when I wrote these paragraphs in One
Night of Passion and saw Temple's story came to life:
Temple stepped off the curb to wave down his driver, Elton, who was waiting in the mews. Colin took the moment to glance back, still shocked by his betrothed's abrupt refusal.
To his surprise, he found Lady Diana peering down from a window, her eyes ablaze with a fiery passion that he had never before seen light her features. She hardly looked the hardbroken, ruined parti.
But then again her gaze wasn't on him. It was drilling into the back of his cousin's wine colored jacket.
Colin swallowed back what was left of his pride.
Egads. Diana had never loved him.
The realization hit him harder than he cared to admit, and at the same time, it made perfect sense. Her easy acquiescence to delay their wedding all these years. Her vehement refusal to marry him today.
His court martial had only been an excuse. She'd cried off because she didn't love him.
Temple and Diana? What was I thinking? Suave, sophisticated Temple? Proper and orderly Diana? It was insane, it was the devil's own match, it was perfect! But what to do with them? Then I saw it -- a homage to one of my favorite movies, It Happened One Night, a madcap, hilariously fun story of a runaway heiress and her pursuers. My version includes one very reluctant Temple. I had the time of my life telling the story of his long-suffering and tempestuous romance with the impossible Lady Diana. I hope you enjoy it!
- Lady
Diana Fordham -- the former fiancée of Colin Danvers (from One
Night of Passion) is hardly the proper and well-bred lady Colin
imagined he was about to marry. She has a few secrets, including a temper
to match her determination to marry the right man. Temple doesn't stand
a chance.
- Temple -- the affable and rakish man about Town, has just as many secrets as Diana, including years of working for Pymm doing the Crown's dirty work. Now it seems his life is about to intersect with Diana's . . . for a second time. He escaped with his heart the first time he tangled with her, but this time, he's met his match. Temple first appeared in One Night of Passion, and has since made encore appearances in It Takes A Hero, Something About Emmaline, This Rake of Mine and Love Letters from a Duke. He is, by far, one of Elizabeth’s most beloved and favorite heroes.
- Viscount Cordell -- Diana's betrothed has convinced her to run away with him to Gretna Green. At least so he thinks. A bounder and a cad, rumored to be wanted by the London magistrate for murder, he's the worst sort of fellow. So who will save Diana from making this disastrous marriage?
- Elton -- a former highwayman, he's Temple's right hand man. Valet, driver, sage giver of advice. But Elton is also harboring a few secrets and though he might have escaped the hangman's noose once long ago, he's not about to escape so handily this time. Discover the truth behind Elton’s secrets in Something About Emmaline
Lord
Stewart Hodges -- Temple's gossipy friend. Stewie, as he's known
around the ton, isn't one to keep a secret, so when he stumbles onto Temple
and Diana's plans, trouble is sure to follow. You can see Stewie again in Love
Letters from a Duke.- Lord Harry Penham and the Baron of Nettlestone -- Diana's other hapless suitors. Don't discount these two bumblers -- Pins and Needles, as they are jokingly referred to, are both in need of Diana's fortune. Each intends to save Diana from Cordell and marry her himself. But ask Diana and she'd tell you that she'd rather marry a hedgehog than either of them. Unfortunately for our intrepid heroine, she may not have a choice in the matter.
Lord and Lady Danvers -- Colin and Georgie are back from One Night of Passion. Of course, Georgie can't help meddle, uh, I mean, offer her expertise . . . that is in theft and subterfuge.- Mr. Pymm -- The crusty and cheap spymaster makes another visit (see also Once Tempted and One Night of Passion.) This time, he's working his nefarious, albeit noble, plans with Temple's less than willing assistance.
Jean-Marc Marden -- an agent of Napoleon. He's come to find Diana for other reasons and his deadly intent proves costly to those who cross his path. Don’t count Marden out though, he makes a chilling return in Something About Emmaline.
- Gretna Green: A Romantic History by Olga Sinclair, ISBN 0-4-440328-3. I have wanted to write a book set around Gretna Green ever since I read this book. A delightful history of Scotland's most infamous and romantic villages.
- The Manchester and Glasgow Road by CG Harper, Volumes 1 & 2. Published in 1907, Harper's "Road" books take you along the routes of the old coaching roads, giving a detailed description of the roads and villages as they existed during the heyday of the coaches before railroads put them out of business. These books were invaluable in tracing how long it took to get from one village to another, and the inns and accommodations along the way.
- The Ordnance Survey Atlas of Great Britain, a detailed book of maps of England that was indispensable in helping me nudge Temple and Diana from London to Gretna Green.
- A Dictionary of English Surnames, by P.H. Reaney & R.M. Wilson, ISBN 0-19-863146-4. I love this book for finding surnames for my characters. I find the most delightful, utterly English names in this handy and indispensable book.
- Ancient Tracks: walking through historic Britain, by Des Hannigan. Without this book, I would not have discovered the ancient Roman route of High Street nor had such a great description of this ancient road.
- The Three Edwards, by Thomas B. Costain. This is the definitive book on these great and infamous Plantagenet kings. I have always had a fascination with Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, so much so that the first book I ever wrote was a medieval set during their reign. That book is still sitting in a box, but by setting the touching scene when Temple and Diana get their first chance to be alone in Geddington, I had a chance to bring these medieval lovers into the Regency.
Because so much of this book took place in actual English villages, I relied on the internet to let me cyber visit the various settings for Stealing the Bride. Here are some of the sites I used:
For Geddington and the Eleanor Cross: www.boughtonhouse.org.uk/villages/geddington/index.htm
For
Buxton: www.cressbrook.co.uk/towns/buxton.php
- Is it reasonable to believe that Diana would have waited for Temple for so many years? Could the long years of war between France and England strengthened or weakened her resolve?
- Who had more influence over Temple, his grandfather or Elton? Do you think the example of Georgie and Colin influenced him?
- Was Elton's willingness to help Diana an act of disloyalty?
- How do you think the villages Diana and Temple travel through have changed since Regency times? What were the challenges of traveling then vs. now?
- Was the Earl of Lamden right to raise Diana the way he did without telling her the truth? Was he protecting her out of love or political loyalty?
- Do you believe that Temple finally overcame the emotional obstacles to being with Diana?
- What were the perils of being an heiress during this time period?
- How typical is Diana a representative of her time period? How did her age allow her more freedoms? Was her education a help or a hindrance in her attaining a normal life?
- What does Diana see in Temple that everyone else seems to miss? Is Temple as alone as he appears?
- Will the Duke and Duchess of Setchfield live a long and happy life? Do you think Temple will give up his love of adventure? And now that Diana has come face to face with his life, will she let him go alone?
As I was writing Stealing the Bride, I wanted Temple and Diana to move from elegant private traveling carriages down to tramping it on foot, and every mode in between. Here is a berline traveling coach, which is what I envisioned Temple and Elton liberating from the Setchfield stables.
The next form of travel was the mail coach or traveling coaches that crisscrossed England. Here is one such coach with gentlemen riding atop. Young men would ride atop and bribe the drivers to let them have a hand at driving.
Here is one of the few remaining Eleanor Crosses. When Queen Eleanor
of Castile died, her husband, King Edward I was distraught with grief.
She died not far from Nottingham forest, and in the spot where her funeral
cortege rested each night, the King ordered a cross be raised as a memorial
to his devoted queen. But his thoughtful gesture should be tempered with
one note: Edward used funds from Eleanor’s estate to pay for the
crosses.
Buxton and Geddington are on my list of must see places the next time I go to England. This spa village was considered the Bath of the North Country. Not quite as fashionable as Bath, so it is no wonder that Temple and Diana find Stewie there.
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