In
this exciting historical mystery debut set in Victorian England, a wealthy
young widow encounters the pleasures—and scandalous pitfalls—of a London social
season . . .
Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, enjoys more freedom as a widow
than she did as a wife. After an obligatory year spent mourning her
philandering husband, Reggie, she puts aside her drab black gowns, leaving the
countryside and her money-grubbing in-laws behind. With her young daughter in
tow, Frances rents a home in Belgravia and prepares to welcome her sister,
Lily, arriving from New York—for her first London season.
No sooner has Frances begun her new life than the ghosts of her old one make an
unwelcome appearance. The Metropolitan police receive an anonymous letter
implicating Frances in her husband’s death. Frances assures Inspector Delaney
of her innocence, but she’s also keen to keep him from learning the scandalous
circumstances of Reggie’s demise. As fate would have it, her dashing new
neighbor, George Hazelton, is one of only two other people aware of the full
story.
While busy with social engagements on Lily’s behalf, and worrying if Reggie
really was murdered, Frances learns of mysterious burglaries
plaguing London’s elite. The investigation brings death to her doorstep, and
Frances rallies her wits, a circle of gossips, and the ever-chivalrous Mr.
Hazelton to uncover the truth. A killer is in their midst, perhaps even among
her sister’s suitors. And Frances must unmask the villain before Lily’s season—and
their lives—come to a most unseemly end . . .
Dianne Freeman’s debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, caught my attention from
the beginning. Her main character, Frances Wynn, who, in the first paragraph,
compares her marriage to mourning, evoked my sympathy.
Sometimes it’s hard for me to read stories set during
the Victorian era because women so often are treated as chattel. But even
though Frances’s mother traded her daughter and money for an English-title
marriage, Frances doesn’t act like a victim and that may be why, after her
husband is dead more than a year, she’s suspected in his murder. Murder? She
didn’t even know he’d been murdered.
With a little help from her friends, Frances
conquers all.
Please welcome author Dianne Freeman to WWK.
E. B. Davis
Did American gentry often buy titles for their
daughters by marrying them off to titled foreigners with a large monetary
payment made to the husband?
During the last quarter of the 19th
century and the first few years of the 20th, there were enough
transatlantic marriages between American heiresses and cash-strapped British
peers to consider it a phenomenon. The brides came from some of the wealthiest
nouveau riche families who didn’t have the status to break into New York
society. An aristocratic son-in-law could provide enough status to raise the
family’s social standing on both sides of the Atlantic. But aristocrats don’t
come cheap. When Anita Murphy of San Francisco married Sir Charles Michael
Wolseley, 9th Baronet in 1883, it’s reported her father provided a dowry of two
million dollars. But when May Goelet became the Duchess of Roxburgh in 1903,
the price of the title was two million pounds! At that time a pound was worth
about five U.S. dollars.
Was the story set during the end of the Victorian
era?
Yes, the Victorian era ended in
January of 1901 with Queen Victoria’s death.
Was the mourning period one year? During that time,
did they not have company or callers?
By this point in the Victorian
era people were becoming impatient with their queen’s constant seclusion while
she mourned her husband’s death. This could be why mourning practices began to
relax and strict observance became a matter of choice, particularly if the
mourner was young. For a spouse, however, a year of mourning was considered the
minimum. The mourner could still pay and receive calls, but it was not
acceptable to attend large entertainments or wear bright colors.
You mentioned Frances’s sister-in-law, power/money
hungry Delia, wasn’t wealthy enough to marry the oldest, titled son—so this was
the custom—not just something tacky Americans did?
Britain’s primogeniture laws were
still in place in 1899 so the eldest son inherited not only the title but any
property and wealth that went with it. He also inherited the upkeep of any
property, which could be extensive and expensive, and he might be expected to
provide a living for various family members. If you are a member of that family
and you hope to receive an allowance of some sort, you want the heir to find
the wealthiest bride he can.
Why didn’t Frances think about returning to the US
when she became a widow? Her entire family was there.
Frances’ life to this point
revolved around duty—first to her mother, then her husband, and finally her
in-laws. If she returned to the states, she’d be back under her mother’s rule
and she didn’t relish the prospect of living out that cycle again. If there was
a chance she could make it on her own, she wanted to give it a go.
Luckily, Frances’s father set up a household account
for her exclusive use to help raise daughter, Rose. Was he progressive or did
he have reservations about Reggie?
Mr. Price was not all that
progressive. The property laws had changed in the 1880s and married women did
have the right to hold property in their own names. However, this was far too
progressive for the Wynn family, who were used to the head of the family
controlling all the funds. When the families started negotiating marriage
settlements, he knew he’d better establish an account solely for Frances.
Reggie’s death occurred during their hosting a house
party in which bed-hopping was one of the primary entertainments. If adultery
was common, why isn’t it more accepted? One married for money, not love.
This is a little tricky. Aristocrats
tended to follow the example of their monarch, but this royal family set two
opposite examples for how one should behave. Queen Victoria was all about
family and propriety while her son, the Prince of Wales, was something of a wild
child. Because he was the royal out mixing in society, his example was what
more people followed—it was also much more fun. But since they still wanted to
please the queen, outwardly they were prim and proper. Cheating on one’s spouse
was accepted, but it should never become public knowledge. This is what makes
the Victorian era so interesting; everyone is hiding something.
Frances seems philosophical about her marriage, but
not about her money or her freedom. Does the lawsuit brought about by
brother-in-law Graham have any merit?
The lawsuit has no merit, but
because it must be answered, and her account is frozen, it becomes a nuisance.
Graham hopes for a settlement from Frances. He’ll drop the suit and Frances can
access her funds again.
Although Frances must tighten her budget, she still
has six people working in her employ even without a butler or footmen. How can
she afford them?
Frances is a creature of her
environment. She’s never done without servants and definitely considers them a
necessity. Fortunately for her, service does not pay well. Frances will spend
about 125 pounds per year for her entire staff. That’s about 20 – 25% of what
she can expect to earn in interest.
Fiona Nash, Frances’s English best friend, has a
brother, George Hazelton, who turns out to be Frances’s new next-door neighbor.
Why does she seem so reluctant to befriend him?
Pure embarrassment? When her
husband died, Frances had to ask George to render a service that was unseemly at
best. She would have preferred never to lay eyes on him again.
What does George Hazelton do for a living?
He worked as an assistant to the
Home Secretary, H.H. Asquith. It’s similar to what we would call Homeland
Security. What he does now, is a bit of a secret.
I loved Frances’s brandy-imbibing Aunt Hetty? Please
describe her for our readers.
Aunt Hetty is one of my favorite
characters. She’s Frances’ aunt on her father’s side and knows a good business
deal when she sees one. She married the love of her life, who passed away from
influenza far too young. After that she moved in with Frances’ family and
became a loving fixture in her life. Hetty is fifty years old, has her own
income, and does whatever she wants.
Frances’s sterling character shines through when she
returns a stolen bracelet that was planted on her to Reggie’s last lover,
Alicia. Honesty really is the best policy and the best defense, too, isn’t it?
Why?
Frances would never consider
keeping someone else’s property, but in this case, she doesn’t want to be caught
with it either. Someone might think she’s the mysterious burglar.
Your plot was complex combining murder, marriage,
courtship, robbery, trust, distrust, and friendship. Are you a plotter or a
pantser?
I’m a pantser turned plotter. The
first draft of this book was all pantser—then I found all the plot holes! I
belatedly wrote a scene-by-scene outline before revising, and I’ve been
outlining ever since.
You leave Frances contemplating going into the
sponsorship of other wealthy young women who want to experience the debutante
season in London. Is this why you titled your book as such?
Frances suffered through her
mother’s version of finishing school, so Frances’ manners and her understanding
of what is and isn’t done in society
is second to none. If there were a guide to etiquette, Frances could write it.
Her sister, Lily balked at this training and as a result, needed help in
navigating the social world. Their roles as sponsor and debutante helped to
create the title.
What’s next for Frances?
Frances will have another chance
to investigate when an acquaintance is found murdered in her own home. She
can’t image who would want to harm the poor dear until she learns the woman had
countless notes hidden away in her home, detailing the private indiscretions of
society’s elite. Now Frances has to wonder who wouldn’t kill her to keep their
secrets safe? A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder will be out in June of 2019.