Clean Regency Romance Bundle - ebook

The Gillingham Collection

Jackson Barrington, the ever-elegant Josephina's younger brother, brings us on new adventures alongside entertaining new characters! Lord Gillingham is desperate to improve his financial situation. As a widower, he is overcome with the daunting task of launching four daughters into society while ensuring a strong legacy for his infant son. But as the Lord obsesses over growing his inheritance and marrying off his daughters, the Ladies exhibit one or two tricks of their own.

The Blackmore Collection

All five daughters of the Earl of Keymouth have reached marriageable age. The Earl and his Countess look forward to giving their hands in marriage. However, the young ladies have other ideas. Jilted love, elopement, kidnapping, jealousy, and other devious shenanigans await the readers of this new Clean Regency Series.

The Norrington Collection

Journey through Regency-era London as the Norrington family navigates love, duty, and societal expectations. Each book unveils a new romance, from Lady Charlotte's unexpected love story to the Duchess's second chance at happiness. Amidst grand balls and country estates, the Norringtons confront their desires, secrets, and the pursuit of true love, all while upholding their noble legacy. 

1- Taming The Lady
2- Presenting The Lady
3- Marrying The Lady
4- Eloping with The Lady
5- Dancing with The Lady
6- Friends with The Lady
7- Rescuing The Lady
8- Advocating for The Lady
9- Catching The Lady
10- Beholding The Lady
11- Loving The Lady
12- Retiring The Lady
13- Missing The Lady
14- Falling for Te Lady
15- Competing for The Lady
16- Unveiling The Lady
17- Saving The Lady
18- Discovering The Lady

Josephina knew that she was a disappointment to her family as well as an embarrassment. Still, she did not give a tinker’s whit. 
She did, however, care enough not to use this expression aloud in society. Josephina loathed having to take a maid with her every time she left the house. If a maid was not immediately in her sights, she did occasionally venture out alone. She drove both a curricle and a barouche and rode faster than ladies should. Discussing the mode, and any number of other silly things ladies were supposed to talk about, was something that bored her to death. She kept abreast of the latest news and would have loved to discuss loftier matters, but those were not topics for a Lady to discuss. 
Josephina believed she should have been born a man. As far as she was concerned, the strictures attached to being a Lady were a load of fudge. Gentlemen could do as they wished, not so for ladies. The acceptable pursuits of ladies held no interest for her. There was no greater torture than to spend the day choosing a ball gown. She had yet to find a bonnet that could be secured tightly enough not to blow away at the slightest breeze. As for a reticule, more often than not, she would set it down somewhere and forget about it. If she lost it at home, it often took most of the household to locate it, earning her another dressing-down from her mother. If she lost it elsewhere, it was her father that would be displeased. 
At the age of four and twenty, Josephina remained unmarried. As the eldest girl in the household, she was expected to marry well. She had refused a gaggle of suitors she did not feel were up to snuff. Her mother called her an old maid, a girl on the shelf. She did not mind it overmuch. It was far better than handing her life away to any of the men who had offered for her. Better to be past her prime than to spend life with a man she did not love. 
Josephina had three sisters and a younger brother. Camilla, older by a year, was married to the Hon. Tobias Wimpole. He was a foppish, Pink of the Ton who spent more time on his necktie and multicoloured waistcoats than anything else, including his wife. Clarissa, a strait-laced, prudish girl four years her junior, had recently agreed to accept the first offer she had received. A mistake as far as Josephina was concerned. 
An eleven-year gap had produced two more siblings: her brother Jackson (her favourite) and Sophia, who were eleven-year-old twins. 
Josephina and Camilla were close. But she seldom saw her sister who had moved to another county after the wedding. Clarissa, however, disapproved of everything Josephina did and made no secret of it. As a result, they were not too fond of each other. As for Jackson and Sophia, she adored them. And they too worshipped their outlandish sister. 
She was grateful that she had no older brother intent on shepherding her everywhere and taking their parents’ side. As it was, her parents were firmly convinced she should set an example for the others by settling down. Josephina was equally convinced she need not bother. Her unmarried sister had already secured a husband, and the twins, who were tough, young, and unimpressionable, didn’t care if she kicked up a lark and had a little fun. 
Lord and Lady Barrington gave up on marrying their daughter when Josephina refused her latest suitor, the extremely eligible, though slightly older, Duke of Barclay. This was on the heels of her rejecting the perfectly acceptable Captain Billings. Lord and Lady Barrington thought her refusal of the Duke to be entirely unfounded. She felt the Duke was too old, but he was only one and fifty. Captain Billings, who she had assessed as tediously dull, would be away most of the time. To her mind, an early death would be preferable to spending a lifetime in such company. 
There had been no lack of suitors in her first Season. The gentlemen were simply not up to the mark. Not that they were unsuitable, but Josephina was just unwilling to marry. She enjoyed the flirtations for a while, but they were unequal to the vexation of later having to listen to a proposal she was going to refuse. Generally, she found gentlemen did not take refusal well. She would spend an uncomfortable half-hour soothing their ruffled feathers, making assurances that it was all her fault. Thankfully, most suitors were sufficiently embarrassed or offended to desist immediately. She could not have tolerated having any of them approach her father after a refusal. To avoid being called a heartless flirt, she decided to keep them all at bay and discourage any signs of courtship early on whenever she could. 
Even Josephina’s critics called her a handsome woman. Her figure, although she loosened her corset every chance she got, was pleasing and well proportioned. Neither dainty nor too sturdy. Her face was deemed attractive. Despite her unruly red hair, she had a lovely complexion. Sharp green eyes held a glint of mischief and hid a keen sense of observation. 
Like a cat, Josephina didn’t miss a thing. This trait did not appeal to most gentlemen who required a Lady’s undivided attention. These young men said nothing that would keep Josephina in rapture. Though she turned heads in a ball gown, the only attire that genuinely suited her was her riding habit. She had taken great pains in selecting the cut, the fabric, and the fasteners, thus making the garment as comfortable as was fashionably possible. 
Sitting on a horse, she looked like a goddess. She felt free and powerful, both of which she was denied in other parts of her life. She adored horses and had always felt a kinship with the four-legged beasts. They shared a special bond. She could communicate with horses, even horses that belonged to other people. If not held tightly, most horses would gravitate around her. Horsemanship was not considered a ladylike pursuit. True, ladies were congratulated on their riding abilities. But they were not expected to have extensive knowledge on the matter. Mores was the pity, for that was indeed Josephina’s favourite topic of conversation. 
All the eligible bachelors found her appearance, behaviour, and aloofness to be an irresistible combination. Each was certain they could tame her, and it had not occurred to any of them that she should not be tamed. 
Unable to suffer the confinements that society tried to impose on Josephina, she did what she wanted, within reason. This included going for long walks in the park with her cat, who would follow faithfully behind, stopping the odd time to climb a tree. Some would call her eccentric. Galloping through the park or driving her curricle at high speed had earned Josephina the reputation of enjoying raising a breeze - not a pleasant trait for a Lady of quality. Her family were not notable enough for her to get away with such comportment. Some thought her too haughty, but as she had set her cap at no one, she was considered harmless. 
One morning, Josephina’s mother received word that her dear sister was ill. She immediately started preparations to leave for the country, likely taking Clarissa and Sophia for company. Lord Barrington wanted Josephina to stay and keep house for him. His time would be better spent at his club than with his sister-in-law. Usually, Josephina would object. However, as Jackson would also stay behind to keep up with his studies, her time at home would be more enjoyable than in the country. She made a show of protest, lest her mother think her too keen on staying home.
A morning of shopping ensued, as Lady Barrington insisted that she must purchase crucial items before leaving civilisation. Josephina was to accompany her, and in the interest of getting rid of one of her parents, she agreed. 
Her mother, expecting a refusal, was in good spirits on the drive to Town. Josephina decided it was the perfect time to broach a matter she had been thinking of for some time. 
“Mama, I do not care for the name Josephina. It sounds old and decrepit. Wasn’t I named after one of your deceased aunts? I’d prefer to be called Joe, or Josie, a lively person’s name,” she ventured, regarding her parent with a smiling countenance. “But Josephina, you are old,” said her mother. “Mama, I am four and twenty. That’s not old,” she replied. 
“Your sister is nineteen and will be married before she is twenty,” came her mother’s reply. Since her sister’s engagement, Lady Barrington had used this argument to try and force Josephina to reconsider the Duke’s offer. He had assured her that he would give Josephina time to see the validity of his proposal. 
“Yes, because she is a silly goose,” retorted Josephina. “Josephina!” shouted her mother, appalled. “James is such a bore, Mama,” she continued.
“The Hon. James Farringdon is not a bore. He is a fine young man, and your sister was lucky to receive his offer,” replied her mother haughtily. 
“What fustian! Clarissa is a simpleton to marry him. He is a penny-pinching fusspot and fastidious to a fault. He will make her life a misery,” Josephina insisted. 
“You are mistaken, and your attitude is the reason you remain on the shelf. I refuse to call you anything but your name. Your father and I chose it carefully, and you shall wear it with honour! Besides, it is unbecoming to shorten your name like a commoner. Now, I will hear no more talk of this nonsense. Nor will I hear any disparaging remarks about your sister’s future husband,” she said in a huff, quickly smoothing out the frown that had appeared on her brow. 
Josephina was forced to drop the matter and attend to fabric, bonnets and the like for the next endless hours. She was looking forward to a spirited ride on Dark Knight when she arrived home, but it was too late. A quick visit at the stables assured her that John, her groom and devoted servant, had everything ready for the following day. When asked if he had received word from her best friend, Arabella, she was told that Miss Allington would meet her as arranged.