Fresh Fiction Blog | Emery Lee | An Interview with a Reformed Rogue

Philip Drake has the look of a man acutely aware of his surroundings. He emanates a sort of restless energy, not of the nervous variety, but of a man accustomed to taking charge of those around him. He regards me first assessingly, and then flashes a raffish smile that makes my pulse speed up, but then Philip, even at his worst, has always had that effect on me.

"So, Miss Lee," he says, "To what do I owe the honor of this interview?"

"It seems there are many misperceptions about you, my lord-"

"Philip, please." He meets me with his intense, dark gaze and then smiles warmly. "I am, after all, indebted to you for my very existence."

"Thank you." I return the smile and try to suppress my rising color. "I had hoped we could chat briefly."

He nods, relaxes in his chair, and crosses a booted ankle over his knee.

"Philip, when readers were first introduced to you in THE HIGHEST STAKES as a brother-in-arms and boon companion to Robert Devington, many were shocked and dare I say even repulsed, by your selfish opportunism."

"Ouch."Philip winces and then laughs a brief, harsh sound. "I confess I had imagined we might ease into this but you don't parry words, do you?"

I prompt him with silence.

He sighs. "Everyone has moments in their past that they would change if they could, don't they? While I won't make excuses, please know that I've had to live with the consequences of my past and it has not been pretty. In those years of which you speak, I was deeply dissatisfied and brimming with resentment of what it could have and should have been, and perpetually sought to dull my disillusionment with easy women and hard drinking. My behavior was irresponsible at the best of times and reprehensible at the worst. I was bitter, as if I'd been dealt an unfair hand or played against cogged dice. I sought to meet the world in the same manner it met me. I was wrong."

"Dare I ask you to share some of that bitter experience with us? The broken heart, mayhap?"

Philip glances at the ceiling and shifts in his chair. "Got any brandy?" he asks with a chuckle. "I don't generally bare my soul without it."

"Please," I cajole. "You know this is a great opportunity to clear up many misperceptions about you."

He answers, as if to put me off. "It's a very long story, that of Sukey and me."

I am a tenacious interviewer, however, and continue to press. "Then how about the Reader's Digest condensed version?"

"Alright," he concedes with a false groan. "Sukey , Lady Messingham, and I first met in a gaming room at the Rose Tavern at Marylebone Pleasure Gardens..."

"That place?"

"It was much more respectable back then," he laughs. "I was having a singular night at the Hazard Table and ready to throw out another cast when a purse of fifty pounds dropped onto the table. I looked up to see a bemasked goddess in a green gown. I was instantly smitten."

"And?"

"She would have none of me, or at least not in the way I envisioned." He smirks. "Yet, she had set her sights on me."

"Really? In what way?"

"I was singled out to become her gaming pedagogue. Sukey was recently widowed and in dire need of money and had had for some unfathomable reason the inane notion that gaming could keep her housed, clothed, and fed in a fashionable manner."

"Come, Philip, be fair! That seems an unjust judgment on your part, given that you had maintained yourself in precisely that way for a number of years."

"But it's not the same for a woman," he argues, "especially such a desirable woman as Sukey. When a man loses at the tables, he is expected to pay. If he cannot, he can expect drawn swords at dawn with a potentially fatal, but nevertheless, honorable outcome. If a woman loses and is unable to pay her debt of honor, her only option of payment is ....let us say... not quite so honorable. So I endeavored to dissuade her, and failing that, saw myself as her protector, a role she greatly resented."

"Indeed a rocky start!"

"I fear we have been at odds more times than not, but she is indeed my soul mate."

The taut lines of his face soften and his eyes glow with warmth as he speaks of her. (Sigh.) I realize I never would have stood a chance.

"Final question, Philip - how would you best describe yourself now?"

"Now? The rogue resurfaces in his reply. "I am a virtual paragon, don't you know. A shining example of a man reformed...outwardly." He pauses and grows suddenly solemn. "Inwardly, I would best say I am a man who has finally made peace with himself. "

Read more about Philip in FORTUNE'S SON Three commenters will win a copy of FORTUNE'S SON.

HIGHEST STAKES

FORTUNE'S SON

Comments

A reformed rogue--my favorite kind of story.
(Sue Farrell 11:49am November 18, 2011)

This is early Las Vegas, across the pond, with a couple of daring characters who will keep the story moving, no doubt!! Unfortunately, I have not read the first book, so I have a little catching up to do. Philip Drake sounds like quite the character - one who has met his match. I love the clothing from that time period, and it has been depicted perfectly on the cover of the book. Congratulations!!
(Peggy Roberson 11:56am November 18, 2011)

wow this great book and i love historical type and would love to read and blog on it tank you for offering it
(Desiree Reilly 12:04pm November 18, 2011)

I am all for reformed rogues... sounds like a great read! Thank you for sharing!
(Colleen Conklin 12:06pm November 18, 2011)

Philip sounds like quite a character. Thanks for the interview. I'm looking forward to reading more.
(G S Moch 12:06pm November 18, 2011)

I see the name Sukey here and I rarely have seen that used in film or books, I love it! As for reformed...we could all do with some reforming from something or another. Count me in today!
(Debra Simning-Chapman 12:54pm November 18, 2011)

Thanks for giving me some insight on Philip. He sounds like he has something to prove or perhaps to set the record straight about his character and that is a great thing.
(Na S 1:02pm November 18, 2011)

I love a man who can recognize and reconcile his own faults. I'm already a little in love with this man. And I love that he understood what you meant by the 'Reader's Digest condensed version' - that's a hoot! : )
(Amy Valentini 1:22pm November 18, 2011)

Well, that certainly gives me pause about him ... I love bad guys turning into better guys..
(Cate Sparks 1:22pm November 18, 2011)

I am loving Philip--a man who is reformed outwardly and is at peace inwardly. My kind of man
(Shirley Younger 1:28pm November 18, 2011)

Hi: I love historical/regency romance type books. I have never read one of your books and I would love to win and read a copy of your book. I would read it and then send you a blog (my review) on the book. Thank You
(Joanne Altieri 2:38pm November 18, 2011)

Reformed Rogues or bad-boys are always fun, regardless of the
time frame.
(Diane Sallans 2:40pm November 18, 2011)

Rogue or not, he sounds great!
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 4:21pm November 18, 2011)

Love this post and historical fiction is fascinating and compelling. Best wishes.
(Sharon Berger 4:57pm November 18, 2011)

I love reformed rogues and the Georgian Era. This book sounds like a great read. Thanks for the chance to win!
(Jennifer Langford 5:17pm November 18, 2011)

Philip sounds like a fascinating character.
(Maureen Emmons 5:23pm November 18, 2011)

I am married to a gambler. Fortune's Son sound like a book I would really enjoy.
And I love a reformed rogue.
(Tammy Yenalavitch 7:16pm November 18, 2011)

I love character interviews! They're usually very humorous-
-which this is--and can be very influential as to whether or
not a reader will like this book--which I do!! Historical
romance is my favorite genre and not only did the interview
convince me to read more but the book cover is also a
definite plus! Thanks for the giveaway!
(Laura Henderson 7:44pm November 18, 2011)

A great interview with Philip. Even if he may be, somewhat,
of a reformed rogue.
(Cynthia Netherton 8:15pm November 18, 2011)

What a lovely cover. I love her dress. I started out reading
historical romances, looks like I need to revisit.
(Julianne Keller 9:19pm November 18, 2011)

FORTUNE'S SON looks wonderful. A fun character interview thank you.
(Mary Preston 9:37pm November 18, 2011)

Very interesting,sounds like a fun novel.
(Deb Pelletier 9:46pm November 18, 2011)

Thanks for the interview, a shining example, indeed.
(Lisa Kendall 10:30pm November 18, 2011)

I love character interviews. Thank you! I love the cover.
(Patti Paonessa 11:19pm November 18, 2011)

One question. Would you let your daughter marry him?
(Sandra Spilecki 11:06am November 19, 2011)

This book sounds interesting and fun! LOVE the interview and characters names. I had a friend with that same and a bit unusual first name, Sukey, when I was younger. I love the cover and her breathtaking beautiful dress! Thanks for the giveaway!
(Linda Luinstra 4:03pm November 19, 2011)

I love rogues. reformed or otherwise. I love historical romances and loved this interview. Would love to win and read this book, so please choose me for the giveaway.
(Chris Bails 10:16pm November 20, 2011)

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