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Ella Quinn | Spies and Smugglers During the Regency
When I was growing up in the 1960s, there was a veritable smorgash borg of spy
shows in TV. Everything from The Man From U.N.C.L.E, with the very hot David Mc
Callum, who played Illya Kuryakin to I Spy, Wild, Wild West, Secret Agent Man,
and Mission Impossible, one of my favorite shows, The Avengers, with the
inimitable Mrs. Peel, the first lady spy who could kick but, to the comedic
parody Get Smart. The first James Bond movie Dr. No, released in 1962. We were
in the middle of the Cold War and spies were all the rage as they continue to
be.
Itβs a well known that for centuries, government used spies, but it wasnβt
always revered as an honorable profession. Which was exactly the case during the
Regency era. Intelligencers, as they were called, were so looked down upon that
those engaged in the trade, were very careful not to let anyone know. In fact,
it was considered a dishonorable profession.
On the other hand, our view of smuggling now is quite different than during the
Regency. We tend to think of smugglers as dirty, dealing in drugs, encouraging
the kissing of protected species such as elephants, and slavery. Not so 200
years ago. Smuggling, though not precisely honorable, was viewed as necessary.
Smugglers mainly dealt in wines, lace and other heavily taxed or hard to find
commodities. Wealthy families, inns and other merchants bought from smugglers,
called βThe Gentlemen,β and if they did not publicly supported the trade, it was
given encouragement. The idea that the money paid for these luxuries might be
going to fund the French side of the war was pretty much ignored. Those actually
engaged in smuggling were usually fisherman augmenting their income.
There were attempts, which had very little public support, to stop the trade.
Knowing all that, it seemed to me that it was not a leap at all for the British
government to want to have some surreptitious control, just to make sure nothing
more dangerous than brandy and lace were being brought into the country
illegally. After all, in government it is frequently the case that one hand
doesnβt know what the other is doing. In The Secret Life of Miss Anna
Marsh, the hero, Sebastian, Lord Rutherford, being a peer with
responsibilities, cannot join the military, but he wants to help his country and
is involved in exactly that type of activity, as was Annaβs brother, Harry
Marsh. Harry in fact ran the smuggling group. Now with rumors of trouble in
France, Rutherford has been again asked for his assistance in discovering who is
now in charge of the smuggling group. Little does he know what heβll find.
Rutherford slid quietly from his horse and made his way over to the gang leader
who was still watching the beach below. Rutherford was almost on the man when he
looked swiftly around and jumped up to run.
Grabbing his shoulders, Rutherford lifted the man off the ground. Even for his
size, he was light. His head jerked back in an attempt to make contact with
Rutherfordβs nose. Rutherford cursed and dropped to the ground, landing on top
of the smuggler.
βTry anything like that again,β Rutherford growled, βand Iβll put your lights
out for you.β
The small man was panting and squirming underneath Rutherford. He started to
search for weapons and slowed when he reached the narrow waist swelling out into
hips. He flipped the person face up and found a band wrapped around the chest.
Binding. A womanβs breasts.
One light swipe across them told him he was right. A woman, not a man. The
muffler hiding the lower part of her face loosened.
He pitched his voice low and gravelly. βKeep it up and youβll get more than you
were expecting.β
She tensed, and her body all but hummed with sensual tension.
His answered.
Then his mind froze for a moment. Only one woman made him respond like that.
Damn it to hell. It couldnβt be.
For Ella Quinn's bachelors, courtship is all about gamesmanship, until the
right woman shows them how much they have to learn. . .
Since she was a young girl, Anna Marsh has dreamed of Sebastian, Baron
Rutherford asking for her hand in marriage. But that was in another life when
her brother Harry was alive, before she vowed to secretly continue the work he
valiantly died for. Now as Sebastian finally courts Anna, she must thwart his
advances. Were he to discover her secret, he would never deem her a suitable wife...
Sebastian has always known Anna would become his wife someday. He expects few
obstacles, but when she dissuades him at every turn he soon realizes there is
much more to this intriguing woman. Somehow he must prove to her that they are
meant to be together. But first he must unravel the seductive mystery that is
Miss Anna Marsh. . .
Comments
39 comments posted.
Re: Ella Quinn | Spies and Smugglers During the Regency
Great fun post, Ella!
(Kary Rader 10:56am November 11, 2013)
Thanks so much, Kary!!
(Ella Quinn 10:58am November 11, 2013)
Love the premise of this book!! Great post, Ella!!
(Jennifer Lowery Kamptner 11:03am November 11, 2013)
Fascinating! Great post & excerpt. I've shared.
(Andrea Cooper 11:04am November 11, 2013)
Jennifer, thank you!!
(Ella Quinn 11:13am November 11, 2013)
I'm so glad you liked it, Andrea!! Thank you for sharing.
(Ella Quinn 11:14am November 11, 2013)
What a fascinating post! I always marvel at your interviews
because you reveal such a knowledge of the time period. Where
did that come from? Is it history you obtained over the years?
Do you research with each novel? A combination of both?
(Christi Caldwell 11:16am November 11, 2013)
Interesting post and I loved the excerpt!
(Angie Kroemer 11:16am November 11, 2013)
Thanks for stopping by, Christi. Some things I know from being widely read, and other things I have to research.
(Ella Quinn 11:29am November 11, 2013)
Thank so much, Angie!! I'm glad you stopped by.
(Ella Quinn 11:29am November 11, 2013)
Terrific Post, Ella. Just finished Phoebe's book, what a sweet tender story. I'm looking forward to reading Anna's story.
(Rue Allyn 11:50am November 11, 2013)
It's fun to see how one century's virtues are another century's vices. However, this then makes me question how we can fairly judge another time period and even another country's policies. Thanks for the nice post.
(Eileen Dandashi 11:57am November 11, 2013)
Thank so much, Rue. I love hearing that!!
(Ella Quinn 1:01pm November 11, 2013)
Thank you, Eileen. When we look at history, we need to remove our 21st century lenses, and think of it as a different country with manners, customs and mores of its own.
(Ella Quinn 1:03pm November 11, 2013)
Hey Ella, great post, but I'm not sure you meant to write this; "encouraging the kissing of protected species such as elephants." LOL
(Elf Ahearn 1:04pm November 11, 2013)
LOL, Elf. No, it should have been killing, but several people have gotten a good laugh from it. I just wish they were kissing the elephants instead of killing them.
(Ella Quinn 1:27pm November 11, 2013)
I think spy stories are great fun to read, enjoy them
immensely.
(G. Bisbjerg 1:37pm November 11, 2013)
Such a fun article, Ella.
(Collette Cameron 2:24pm November 11, 2013)
Me too, G. I've long been addicted to them. Thank you for coming by.
(Ella Quinn 2:50pm November 11, 2013)
Thank you, Collette!
(Ella Quinn 2:50pm November 11, 2013)
This looks like a rollicking good time with a lady spy and the
properness expected of most during the Regency era.
(Alyson Widen 6:51pm November 11, 2013)
Thank you, Alyson.
(Ella Quinn 7:02pm November 11, 2013)
love the post, Ella!!
(Nancy Goodman 7:17pm November 11, 2013)
Nancy, thank you!!
(Ella Quinn 7:28pm November 11, 2013)
Your book sounds so fun and interesting! Thanks for the chance to win!!!
(Linda Brennan 7:45pm November 11, 2013)
You're welcome, Linda!! I'm glad you came by!
(Ella Quinn 8:04pm November 11, 2013)
This sounds like a great, fun read. I look forward to reading it.
(Janie McGaugh 10:50pm November 11, 2013)
The book (and the post) sound like such fun, Ella!
(Marcy Shuler 10:53pm November 11, 2013)
Love the Regency Era. Great excerpt. Will be on my "To read" list. Keep writing!!
(Sharon Extine 10:54pm November 11, 2013)
Thank you for visiting, Janie. I hope you love Anna and Rutherford's story.
(Ella Quinn 9:05am November 12, 2013)
I'm so glad you liked, them both, Marcelyn!
(Ella Quinn 9:06am November 12, 2013)
Thank you so much for adding it, Sharon!!
(Ella Quinn 9:06am November 12, 2013)
I loved the excerpt, and your posting!! It definately left me wanting more!! I can't wait to read the book!! I recall learning about this ages ago in school, and I think it's wonderful that you're keeping this part of History alive with your story!! The cover is outstanding as well!! It's got the right bit of sexiness to it, without being over the top!! This is definately on my TBR list!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:50am November 12, 2013)
Peggy, I'm so glad you liked the post, excerpt, and cover!!! Thank you.
(Ella Quinn 10:25am November 12, 2013)
Loved the excerpt and look forward to reading the book.
(Carol Woodruff 11:11am November 12, 2013)
This sounds like a fun, fun book to read. The Regency era sure does provide some good characters.
(Sue Farrell 11:51am November 12, 2013)
Thank you, Carol!
(Ella Quinn 1:18pm November 12, 2013)
It really does, Sue. Not having the liberty to act as one wishes, makes for some interesting situations.
(Ella Quinn 1:19pm November 12, 2013)
Love the history lesson as well as the excerpt! Secret Life
looks like a great book!
(Glenda Martillotti 11:32pm November 13, 2013)
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