The Dark Side of Regency

Regency readers love this romantic genre with gently bred ladies and dashing rogues who change their spots for the woman who claims their heart.  So do I, but the period wasn’t all passion and proposals.

In A Wicked Earl’s Widow, Eliza tries to escape a domineering and abusive father. She married against her will and surprisingly found a better life. But when she’s thrown into widowhood with a young daughter, her past looms over her again. 

During the Regency, a woman was “one with her husband” and had no rights. Everything she had became his, though not vice versa. Short of murder, a man could do anything he wanted to his wife or daughters and society turned a blind eye. Being alone could be a much better option than marriage. And this is what the dowager countess hopes for. Peace and solitude. 

While I write happy endings, not all women were as lucky as Eliza. She found a family who loved and cared for her. Without the support and influence of her in-laws, this heroine’s fate could have been much different. No, the scars of her childhood do not magically disappear, but she overcomes the stigma to make a better life for her daughter and herself.

The cycle of abuse finally ends. Though she’s always considered herself a weak female, her inner strength comes through when it’s most needed. Eliza surprises not only her family but herself. Society often underestimates the impact physical and emotional abuse have on the victims. Walking away can be much harder than dealing with the violence. The unknown can be much more frightening than a recognized evil.

So as you read A Wicked Earl’s Widow, keep in mind the daunting task the viscount has when he sets out to earn Eliza’s trust. He is a hero in more ways than one, and she is so much more than a romantic figure swept off her feet.