Propinquity - it's a good word, though don't try to say it if you've had one glass of wine too many! It is defined by Oxford Languages as 'the state of being close to someone or something; proximity.
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| And Lady Rosamund incognito! |
So when one reads of Lady or Lord somebody having connections, (or few as in the case of the errant Lydia in Pride and Prejudice), it was no light matter. Making connections by marriage, common business of social interests, was a very serious business. And your ability to make connections via marriage was heavily dictated by your status (tilte or family history important here), your wealth, your respectability and finally your connections.
So, your likelihood of meeting that Duke (why are American writers obsessed with Dukes - one would think they were scattered like confetti throughout the British Isles, while the truth is and always was, that they are nearly as rare as hen's teeth in reality?) was dictated by your ability to be accepted into the highest echelons of Society. Now, there was always the possibility (the odds were about as high as winning the lottery, I suppose) that you might stumble across the noble love of your life in the country, but it was highly unlikely. The more likely way was to take part in the London Season, and hope to be accepted and invited to attend the social functions governed by the elites.
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| Almack's by George Cruikshank (Wikimedia Commons) |
And that's why getting vouchers for 'Almacks' was considered crucial for aspiring debutantes, and a reasonably safe, if chilling, place to look over prospective brides, if a gentleman was in the market for a wife.
No one was admitted to Almack's unless they had been vetted by the Patronesses of that Institution. If you were admitted, you were considered to be respectable enough to enter into the hallowed halls of the highest echelons of Polite Society. The system wasn't infallible, of course, but it worked for most. Here, debutantes could meet gentlemen who were looking for a wife, in a relatively safe, if slightly boring environment.
And whilst the young people were tripping the light fantastic, the chaperones would be discussing all the other important stuff: dowries, annual incomes, lands, property, connections, gossip, scandal and worst of all: rumours!
And so we authors of historical romances spend a lot of time working on how our heroes and heroines meet, and continue to be able to meet in a reasonably open manner. They have to get to know each other and have sufficient opportunity to fall in love, tackle some obstacles that threaten their happiness, and finally overcome all other obstacles (competition from other ladies or gents, fortune hunters etc) thrown in their way, and live happily ever after.
So, in the famous words of the old song "Getting to know you", it requires quite a lot of thought to make a love story both entertaining and believable! So dances, house-parties, and riding in public places such as Hyde Park, were incorporated into the rituals of the Season, or just following it, to ensure everybody had the opportunity to meet a suitable parti, with some time, almost alone together; and therefore these situational tropes will be found in many historical romances! Putting an original spin on these rituals is the hard bit!
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| A young lady riding in Hyde Park, pursued by intrigued gentleman? |
I hope to publish 'Lady Rosamund's Recluse' in the next few weeks. As might be expected with Rosamund, the whole doing 'The Season' does not go down well with her - she has resigned herself to luxurious spinsterhood, and goes off to find adventure instead! Which is when things get interesting! Look out for news here and on Facebook.
