Stacy Reid | Sweet, Sweet Scandal

There is nothing society loves more than titillating gossip, and in the Victorian era scandals of all sorts proliferated the newspapers for society to relish. The haute monde, the gentry, and even the lower class had an insatiable appetite for the forbidden. The slightest mishap by a young lady was enough to ignite the scorn and condemnation of society. Shocking scandals were a delicious treat, and the most notable and scandalous included those surrounding money, sex, politics, and the royal family!

Scandal sheets were avidly read by society, and its members relished reading about the sins of others. In the latest book in my Scandalous House of Calydon series, SINS OF A DUKE, Lady Constance was seen kissing a man with a dastardly reputation at his gambling club Decadence. The morning after her visit with the Duke of Mondvale at his den of sin, she found a very naughty tattle on her in the scandal sheets for all of London to devour.

Not so shocking I believe, but such a scandal was enough to ruin a lady’s good name in the Victorian era. In my research of past scandals, I found some really delicious tattles. Some made me laughed, and a few made me winced. Below is a peek at some sinful escapades from the era!

The Cleveland Street Scandal

A fifteen year old boy, Charles Thomas Swinscow, was discovered to be in possession of fourteen shillings, equivalent to several weeks of his wages. Investigation uncovered that he was a male prostitute working in a brothel at 19 Cleveland Street! The scandal fuelled the belief that homosexuality was an aristocratic vice that corrupted lower-class youths. What was even more shocking about this scandal was that it was rumored that one client of the brothel was Prince Albert Victor, who was the eldest son of The Prince of Wales and Second in line to the British Throne. It must be noted that this rumor has never been substantiated, though the government was accused of covering up the scandal to protect the names of any aristocratic patrons.

The Mordaunt Divorce Case

Lady Harriet Mordaunt’s daughter was thought to be blind at birth. In her fear that she may had contracted syphilis, Lady Mordaunt confessed to her husband, Sir Charles, that she had been unfaithful to him. Among her named lovers was the Prince of Wales (Queen Victoria’s eldest son, heir to the throne, and later King Edward VII). Shocking! This lead to divorce proceedings, and a buzz in London with the scandalous tale.

Mistress, Not a Wife

Major The Rt. Hon. William Charles Yelverton, 4th Viscount Avonmore most ardently fell in love with Theresa Longworth. Yet he ruined her, for he claimed her as his lover without the benefit of a marriage. Their scandalous romance shocked Victorian society, as Therese boldly accepted such a role, openly admitting their relationship. They eventually got married in a secret ceremony which was witnessed by neither family nor friends, or even a priest! (The scoundrel!) A year later Yelverton made a bigamous marriage to Emily Marianne Ashworth Forbes. The distraught Theresa took him to court seeking alimony. Yelverton then insisted there was no marriage because of their religious differences (he was Catholic and she was Protestant). In March, 1861, the Four Courts in Dublin found in her favor, but a year later the Scottish Court of Session in Edinburgh decided against her, although she later won on appeal. In England, the case went as far as the House of Lords, where she lost and her second appeal was dismissed. It was decided in his favor by the courts!

These scandals were far more ruinous than the supposed kiss between the Lord of Sins and Lady Constance in SINS OF A DUKE, but the implications were certainly disastrous for a well-bred lady. A thought from The Duke of Mondvale himself when he saw the tattle sheet:

“She is ruined. He already knew how the scandal would be received by society. Because of his wealth and title he would be forgiven. Instead of calling him out for his reprehensible actions of having her in his club and kissing her, the mammas of the haute monde would applaud his good sense in escaping the trap the bastard girl had set for him.”

What are some of the most memorable scandals you have heard?

Thank you for having me!

About SINS OF A DUKE

She would be his perfect revenge...

All of the young ladies whispered about the Duke of Mondvale in hushed tones, their eyes following his tall, dark figure with barely disguised lust. For the newly-ostracized Lady Constance Thornton, he is magnetic and altogether desirable. Irresistibly so. Since her reputation is already ruined in London society, why shouldn't she be impudent and dance with the scandalous "Lord of Sin"?

Little does she know of his plans.

The beautiful and innocent Lady Constance is no mere plaything for Lucan Wynwood. She will be his revenge. By ruining her, he will have his vengeance against her brother. Except that the Lady Constance is full of surprises... and now she could well be the ruin of him.

About Stacy Reid

Stacy is an avid reader of novels with a deep passion for writing. She especially loves romance and adores writing about people falling in love. Stacy lives a lot in the worlds she creates and actively speaks to her characters (out loud). She has a warrior way, never give up on her dreams. When Stacy is not writing, she spends a copious amount of time drooling over Rick Grimes from Walking Dead, watching Japanese anime and playing video games with her love, Dusean Nelson.

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