Jewellery and characters

Rebecca wearing the emeralds that she has inherited from her mother (also a green-eyed redhead). A bit over the top? Nathaniel thinks so.

 I'm not a person who has a lot of jewellery. Most days of the year you will find me wearing my wedding ring only. It's not that I don't like jewellery, but I find that I'm quite picky about what I do like. I suppose my tastes were formed when as a schoolgirl, a group of us would sometimes add a small detour to our journey on our way home, to ogle the treasures to be viewed in the best jewellers in Preston, Whittles, (in our opinion) at that time. They were, of course, the most expensive jewellers in town too. There we would stand, and pick out the engagement ring that we were going to have, when the (very rich) man of our dreams declared his undying love for us and showered us with all our teenage, avaricious, heart's desires!

I always focussed on the lovely emerald cut (yes it is a thing), emerald and diamond ring, which even in those days had a price tag in the thousands, if I recall correctly. It looked something like the ring pictured below, but with slightly bigger diamonds if memory serves. Like all good jewellers, Whittles had that special arrangement of lights that made the diamonds flash, and the emerald glow. Amazingly alluring!

 

In my latest book, 'Lord Nathaniel's Nemesis', Nathaniel will present the love of his life with a similar ring. She already has some very impressive jewellery, including some whopping emeralds. Unfortunately these are more suitable for a lady of more advanced years who is valiantly still trying to impress, and using  jewels to attract attention. Nathaniel is quite certain that his love requires little embellishment - nature has endowed her with more than sufficient beauty. So this ring, though still reflecting the colour of her eyes, is a token of his love and devotion. As he explains that he has chosen the emerald for it's unusual brilliance of colour, clarity and lack of flaws, he shows the care that has gone into that choice. It is an expression of his his deep feelings for her. He has seen her character and her intrinsic perfection in his eyes. He also points out that in some cultures emeralds are a symbol of new beginnings - you'll have to read the book to find out why that statement is significant!

So, as you may have guessed, I have moved on from that avaricious teenager, and look more for meaning in people and things, than the mere flash of conspicuously costly baubles. I'm not saying that I would refuse that wonderful ring if given to me with a suitable expression of devotion. I wouldn't. However, I live in hope rather than expectation!

Anyway, getting back to jewels and what they mean in my novels. No doubt Nathaniel will present her with a matching pendant and earrings by the end of the story - something like those below, I'm sure!

Though jewellery does not feature heavily in my novels (a bit more in Lady Serena's Secret, as she designs jewellery secretly), it is a metaphor for the deep regard of our male protagonist for his love, always. Hew in Lady Serena's Secret, manages to get hold of some of her original designs (as yet, unexecuted), and has 'The Lotus Ring' made for her in his own workshop. Hew has compared Serena to the Lotus flower, and written a poem in Persian for her, expressing his romantic vision of her. A man who writes poetry, commissions original jewellery for you, and is tall dark and handsome. Be still my beating heart! Below is what I think Serena's jewellery might look like!

 

The Lotus Parure - though I think they would all be in yellow gold - Serena has honey blonde hair, and yellow gold would be more traditional back then.

I have to admit that the Lotus jewellery would be highly impractical - can you imagine how that ring would catch on everything? But ladies of High Society did not have to be practical - they had maids for all that! I just imagine the thrill one would get just looking at something so unique and special, remembering the sentiments expressed when it was given. (That's the romantic in me coming out!)

And finally we are only told of one gift from Theo to Isabel in Book One : Lady Isabel's Inheritance. (Presumably she got the heirloom family engagement ring - what an omission by me!). It is described as an oval locket encrusted with Aquamarines to match Isabel's eyes. Theo thinks diamonds are too cold to reflect her personality. Once again, it is the personal thought and sentiment that goes into the choice of jewellery that matters. That it is an expression of love rather than a commodity. 

Isabel's locket. This is the nearest that I can get my current Ai programme to generate something close to the description. The B for Brockworth should be more elaborate and larger. I'll keep trying and if I come up with something closer to my mental image - I will post it here.

Take note gentlemen - we ladies are quietly suckers for a bit of heartfelt sentiment, especially when it is packaged so beautifully!

Lady Isabel's Inheritance

 Well, I've finally done it! I've completed and published my first Historical Romance on Amazon! It's been in preparation for over a year, and I've finally given up tweeking it, and backed myself (for once), and committed it to electronic print.

I have always been a fan of Georgette Heyer's novels, and I suppose this is my take on the genre. Think of the Sanditon or Bridgerton style of story and you get the idea. You can find it here. 

Here is the online intro:  

Lady Isabel, newly widowed, has beauty, status, property, money and most importantly, her independence. Why would she need a new husband, especially when her past experiences of men have been so dismal?
Theo Brockworth, 3rd Marquess of Norcombe, is similarly suspicious of all females of marriageable age, for different reasons. Having been relentlessly pursued by scheming debutantes and their Mamas for his title and fortune, he is understandably cautious when it comes to the female of the species. However, he is in a quandary. He needs to marry, but has never found a woman that he could envisage being shackled to for the rest of his life, nor whose motives are above suspicion.
And then they meet on a stormy winter's night, when Isabel's coachman has arrived at The Marquess's house by mistake. Sparks fly as attraction sizzles between them, but after Isabel states that she has categorically sworn off men, Theo tries to stifle his attraction to his gorgeous new neighbour. Circumstances draw them inexorably together, though Isabel still clings to the idea that no man is trustworthy, despite Theo's help and kindness in overcoming her problems in getting to grips with her new estate. Will Theo be able to avoid the local heiress who has fixed designs on him? Will dangers from Isabel's past wreck the budding love story? Enjoy the fast moving relationship between the lovely Theo and the feisty Lady Isabel, as their family, friends, neighbours and enemies watch on with sometimes more than benign interest.
Meet the Brockworth's and their friends and neighbours in the village of Norcombe Abbey, set in the lovely rolling countryside of the Cotswolds.

After a summer of visiting stately homes around the country, I am newly armed with fresh inspiration and have embarked on book two in the series: Lady Serena's Secret. Currently there are six books planned for the series, with a few novellas thrown in for good measure.

Talking of Inspiration, I fell in love with Sezincote, which is a rather unusual Georgian Mansion in the north east of the Cotswolds. It has inspired a very small portion of 'Lady Serena's Secret', and so will be the subject of my next post. That's enough of a spoiler for now, but I will give you a photo to whet your appetite.

Sezincote House from the Cedar Grove

If you have read Lady Isabel's Inheritance then you may wish to see from where one my inspirations for Norcombe Abbey Old Hall came. The exterior was inpired by Asthall Manor, Oxfordshire. For me, as I saw it for the first time, it epitomised the graciousness of that earlier period. I know nothing of the interior, as one was not permitted to view indoors. A pity - I would love to have had a nosey round.

Asthall Manor, from across the valley on a rather gloomy February morning.

Despite the fact that this post is called Detta's Diary, I find it hard work to post every day, or even every month! Self publishing is far more involved than I ever imagined - I'm having to learn to market myself - not a natural thing for someone who is fairly reclusive by nature! But needs must! So I'm going to try to post every Wednesday from now on. If you would like to subscribe, please just fill in the box.

Keep well and happy! Detta