Eileen Richards | Research: Tenant Farming in 19th Century England

Part of the plot of AN HONORABLE WISH centers around the friendship of Juliet Townsend with Penelope Williams, the daughter of a tenant farmer on the Horneswood estate. This friendship was not appropriate for a young lady of Juliet’s rank in the small village of Beetham. The work she does to help the family is seen as charity work. The friendship is discouraged as Penelope is not an appropriate companion for Juliet.

In the early 19th century, 90% of agricultural lands were tenanted. The land was owned by landed gentry of the time and leased to farmers. Rents were paid either in the form of cash or product or a combination of both. Depending on the size of the land a tenant farmer rented, one could become quite affluent.

In the story, Penelope Williams and her family are struggling to keep the tenancy. Mr. Williams plan was to pass the farm down to his young son, Aaron, but an accident left him unable to work the land and keep up the rent. Also, during this time, there was an agricultural depression. The 21-year leases that most were granted, became yearly leases where either party could terminate the agreement with six months notice. This allowed the rents to fluctuate in costs along with the quarterly price of wheat. It allowed the landowner to keep his income at a steady level. It may not have been so good for the tenants. This also adds to the misery of the Williams family and they are facing eviction.

Enter our villain, Mr. Bartleby, the greedy steward at Horneswood. He is the younger son of a duke who is forced to “work” due to the lack of money from his elder brother and his gaming debts. He is holding the eviction over Penelope’s head. For her family to keep the farm, she must agree to be his mistress. He’s slime but he was fun to write.

Absent landlords left the management of their lands to their stewards. There were no laws to protect the tenants so the landlords could do as they pleased. A tenancy could be terminated without any grounds. Juliet has made it her goal to keep the Williams from being evicted and moving to the city.

In this excerpt from AN HONORABLE WISH, we are introduced to Juliet and her method of helping her friend Penelope:

A twig snapped behind him. Tony turned to find Juliet Townsend tiptoeing past him at the edge of the woods, carefully avoiding making any noise.

She was dressed as a boy.

“Miss Juliet, up to your hoyden ways again, I see.” Tony crossed his arms.

Juliet huffed and kicked at the weeds beneath her feet in scuffed boots that seemed to flop about on her feet. She was covered in dirt. Her dark brown hair was tucked under an old hat that had been pulled down low over her face.

Tony raised one eyebrow. “Hiding from someone?”

Juliet turned and faced him, resigned at being discovered. “You weren’t supposed to see me or recognize me.”

“Why?” Tony moved closer. She was dressed in brown breeches that were a tad too tight around her hips. She had on a rough linen shirt and waistcoat. “From whom have you stolen that outfit? One of the grooms?”

No one was as stubborn as Juliet Townsend. She pushed her spectacles back on her face. “Aren’t you supposed to be in London?”

“I asked you first.”

She flounced toward him and plopped down at the edge of the steps. “If you must know, I’m helping a friend.”

“Dressed as a boy? Have you lost your senses?”

Juliet was different from her sisters. She wasn’t afraid to take up a cause and see it through. Tony sat next to her on the stone steps. “Who is this friend?”

She glowered at him. “You must swear not to tell a soul.”

“If your sister disapproves, it must be bad.”

She grinned. “What would be the point of it if it weren’t?”

“One day, Miss Juliet, your wild ways are going to get you into trouble.”

Juliet looked out across the trees. “You are probably right. My friend, Penelope Williams, and her family are tenants of the Horneswood estate nearby. Her father was in a terrible accident that left him disfigured. Anne would not approve of the friendship.”

“She is far beneath you, Miss Juliet.”

She glared at him. “I don’t care about that. Penelope is a dear, and I have found that I enjoy the work.”

“What do you know of farming?”

“A great deal more than you, I’d wager. I’ve read at least three books on the subject.”

“You have me there. The last time I read a tome on agriculture, I was having trouble falling asleep.”

“You are too wicked, Mr. Matthews. Horneswood’s land steward is threatening to have them evicted. They have nowhere else to go. Penelope and her brother may end up working in a factory in Lancaster, or worse.”

“There’s nothing wrong with factory work, Miss Juliet. It puts a roof over one’s head. It might be a better fate than the workhouse.”

“I knew you wouldn’t understand.

Juliet is a unique character. She can learn anything from a book and she’s not afraid to get dirty if it means helping a friend. I loved this about her and I hope you do as well.

About Eileen Richards

Eileen Richards has been writing for most of her life. Poetry, totally inappropriate answers to essay questions in school, and interesting error codes during her 30 year IT career has prepared her for the manic world of publishing. She writes sassy regency romps set in the small villages of England where the rules are bent a bit and gossip rules the day. Eileen resides with her husband and their diva of a greyhound in North Carolina.

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About AN HONORABLE WISH

LOVE MAY BE THEIR GREATEST GAMBLE…

Tony Matthews spends his time in London’s most notorious gambling dens, frittering away his fortune. But when his latest victory leaves a man ruined, Tony knows he’s reached his lowest point. Determined to make amends, he returns home to his family’s country estate with plans to settle down and marry at last. And he hopes the lovely Juliet Townsend will help him—if only he can keep his disgrace a secret.

Juliet’s secret wish has always been for Tony to love her. The only bright spot in her dreadful London season was dancing with him—before he disappeared to the card rooms. Now, he’s returned, but has he truly changed? Or will gambling always be his mistress, even if she becomes his wife? And does Juliet dare risk her heart by finding out?