Regency Either/Or!

Nicola here! I have one arm in a sling this week after unexpectedly needing some treatment to my shoulder and as a result I can’t type much. So for my blog today I thought I would post up a little game for everyone called Regency Either/Or. I shamelessly borrowed this idea from Honorary Word Wench Mia Marlowe who has a very fun version of this on her blog. I hope you enjoy it and share your choices and your own suggestions!

Duke of Mr?

Actually these days I think that should be Prince or Mr. I have noticed title inflation in some historical romances rather like the millionaire to billionaire inflation in some contemporary romance books. Whilst a Duke (or Prince) is frightfully authoritative and powerful I have a soft spot for a Mr. On the other hand teh duke gets to wear the cute coronet above.

Debutante or courtesan?

I don’t mind a debutante heroine if she has a bit of gumption and isn’t too “straight out of the schoolroom.” As for courtesans, well everyone deserves to find true love.

Swords or pistols?

Which is your weapon of choice? By 1770 the sword was considered very old-fashioned and pistols were
all the rage. But gentlemen, remember: would it not be more mature – and less dangerous – simply to apologise? There is no dishonour in that.

Brandy or claret?

“Claret is the liquor for boys; port for men; but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy.” Dr Johnson. Need I say more?

Signet ring or diamond cravat pin?

A signet ring, especially one bearing the arms of the hero’s family, suggests a reassuringly ancient pedigree. Is a diamond cravat pin just too bling?

Curricle or stagecoach?

Who could resist the sports car of its day? But if you do take a ride in a curricle make sure that the driver is a noted whip and not someone who cannot handle his cattle. Let’s not dismiss the stage out of hand, though. You can meet very interesting people on public transport.

Highwayman, smuggler of pirate?

Ok, I know it's cheating to have three but when it comes to heroes who like to walk on the wrong side of the law, how do you choose?

Now it's your turn. Answer as many as you like or make up your own!

Comments

[Fiona Marsden]

Duke's sound exciting but Mr Darcy shows us that a mere Mr. can have what it takes.
I go for a debutante every time. Horses for courses but I find them more relaxing. Swords are elegant but Pistols for two are also dashing. Heyer gave me highwaymen and smugglers and I'm quite content. She also gave me curricles, stagecoaches and bad boys who drink brandy. Who am I to quibble with tradition?

[Anne Gracie]

Hugs on the medical treatments, Nicola. Hope you heal quickly.
OK, on with the game.
Duke or Mr? — to be honest I don't mind, though my bookshelves are rather crammed with dukes. IMO it's the man who counts, not the title.

Debutante or courtesan? Truthfully? I prefer a debutante, though as you say, everyone deserves to find love.

Swords or pistols? I don't mind a good fight, myself. ;)

Brandy or claret? Each to the occasion.

Signet ring or diamond cravat pin? A signet ring is sexy, but I have used a glittery pin to advantage before.

Curricle or stagecoach? Curricle, definitely. Or a phaeton.

Highwayman, smuggler of pirate? Highwayman, by preference. I used to love the idea of pirates, but some experience with modern-day pirates (truly evil) have made me think twice.

Thanks for the fun exercise.

[Nicola Cornick]

Very true, Fiona. A "mere Mr" can be a true gentleman.

"Swords or pistols? I don't mind a good fight, myself. ;)" LOL Anne!

[Patricia Rice]

Hope your shoulder is feeling better today, Nicola!
I've probably written all of the above and as Anne says, it's the man who counts. But I like misters and I'd rather have widows than courtesans and there's just something dashing about a sword. Far more work than a stupid bullet. :) Fun game!

[Jo Beverley]

Fun, Nicola!

I can enjoy any story if it's well done, but I think I'm middle of the road. I like a titled hero, but dukes are too elevated to encounter often.

I'm not keen on courtesans as heroines, in part because of the practicalities for the happy ending, but I mostly like a heroine with a year or two of social experience. Or none. I do like an outsider.

Sword fights are definitely more dashing and romantic, and in fact were less dangerous than pistol duels. Unless one of the guys is clueless. He might get lucky with a pistol. No way with a sword.In fact, that's another reason I like swords. I admire skill.

Oh, and I do like really good brandy, and a man or woman who drinks it.

Cheers,

Jo

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose]

Feel better son, Nicola. You can always say you took a sword prick to the shoulder from a roguish pirate! But then of course forced him to surrender in the end. (Tell Andrew it's just research!)

What a fun post—okay, here goes.

I confess that I like having a starchy titled gent who realizes that at heart all those trappings don't matter.

Any lady who has a mind of her own and the courage to fight for what she wants is a heroine for me.

Love pistols—Joseph Manton was an artist!

Brandy vs. claret: hmmm, what about port? Brandy's a bit too potent for me, but bwteen the other two . . .will have to keep testing, LOL.

Definitely signet ring.

Pirate—what can I say other than Johnny Depp.

[Carol Cork]

Hope you're feeling better, Nicola. Love your post!

Duke or Mr? That's difficult because I like both but there's just something about a self-made who has had to drag himself up from the gutter.

I'm with you Nicola. I think everyone deserves to be loved and so I'd choose the courtesan.

I love the old swashbuckling movies and so I'd go for swords.

Brandy or claret? I hate brandy and so it would have to be claret.

Most definitely the signet ring.

Does a river Pirate count? I just swoon over Charming Mickey in Elizabeth Hoyt's Scandalous Desires!

[Nicola Cornick]

Thank you for such fun answers! Pat, I like the idea that you have to work harder with a sword than a pistol. Good point! On the other hand I just knew that Cara/Andrea would go for the pistols ;)

Jo's right, there is something very attractive about a man with a skill ;)

Carol, I can't drink brandy either but I so like a good claret!

[LouisaCornell]

Feel better soon, Nicola! I am against anything that keeps your from writing!

What a fun game!

Duke or Mr ? A man who knows what (or who) he wants and goes after it comes to mind whether he is a duke or a mister. However, I do love the idea of a duke and all of his inherent arrogance being taken down a peg by a brassy heroine.

Debutante or courtesan? I must admit to having a soft spot for a courtesan who never expects to find happiness ending up with the man of her dreams.

Swords or pistols? Either is an efficient method with which to dispose of that dastardly villain in the hands of the right hero.

Brandy or claret? There is something about a kiss flavored with brandy and smoke that sets the heart to fluttering.

Signet ring or diamond cravat pin? Definitely signet ring - heavy and with the family crest emblazoned on it. Makes such a nice mark on the head of an idiot who dares to say something unkind about our hero's lady.

Curricle or Stagecoach ? Curricle! Who can resist a dashing duke or mister who is a dab hand with his cattle as he races through the streets of London?

Pirate, smuggler or highwayman? Sigh! I have had fantasies about a dashing highwayman since I had to memorize Alfred Noyes' poem.

[Marie]

Hope you are on the mend soon Nicola!

I think a Duke makes an interesting hero.
Definitely prefer a Debutante for a heroine.
I don't care for fighting myself either but if I had to choose one I would say sword because they are more dashing.
Brandy.
Signet Ring seems classier to me.
Curricle, to me it sounds more thrilling then a stagecoach.
I don't usually find Highwaymen, Smugglers or Pirates my preferred heroes but if I had to choose one I would say smuggler. Lots of fun possibilities there.

[Beth Elliott]

A well-connected and wealthy Mr would have the edge over a duke. A spirited debutante will lead him a merry dance. Perhaps two duels are allowed, so swords and pistols feature and the hero demonstrates his skill with both. If only one allowed, swords, because of the skill involved.
The only way I'd like brandy is if the foxed hero snatches a wicked brandy-laced kiss.
A sparkle from a small diamond pin in the snowy folds of a cravat fits the fashion of the era. Curricle every time. As so many of the landed gentry dealt in smuggled brandy, there are possible plots to do with smugglers.

Hope you are soon better, Nicola. This was fun, thank you.

[Jenny]

Fun blog Nicola. Hope you are well soon.
Duke or Mr? Well I don't mind a Lord, but a Mr is probably more to my liking. Definitely a debutante, not a courtesan. A little bit of experience is OK, but a courtesan - no. Maybe a widow, but young of course. Definitely swords. I like a bit of skill. I know, I know. We are told he was 'skilled with pistols', but still, swords for me. Brandy or claret? Definitely brandy. More masculine. The signet ring is a definite choice. It is with the hero at all times, unlike the stick pin. Too easy to lose it. As far as transport, I believe I would rather the stagecoach. You never know who you could meet. Maybe the Duke? And I think it has to be a smuggler. After all, if not for the smugglers, where would we get the brandy. Although I suppose the pirate could be useful supplying the diamonds for the stick pins. But the highwayman is more likely to take the diamond. One give, and one takes away.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Fun post, Nicola! Though I tend to find myself voting between the lines. I like a nice title, but the genre is infested with Too Many Dukes. Earls work rather well. I'm not much for either debutantes or courtesans, the latter too often boring, The courtesans--harder to suspend disbelief. Give me a young woman who has been toughened by life and proved herself more than competent.

And all the way down to the last trio of choices--and I don't like ANY of them! Criminals are criminals. Give me a nice wounded military man to fix up any time. *g*

[Nicola Cornick]

Thank you, Louisa. I must admit that Alfred Noyes poem was what got me hooked on highwaymen too!

Marie, I think travelling by curricle would be much more thrilling than lumbering along in a stagecoach!

Hi Beth! You make the tasteful diamond cravat pin sound extremely attractive!

[Nicola Cornick]

Jenny, I love your answers! Good point about the highwayman taking the diamond cravat pin! I do think the opportunities provided by travelling by stage would be well worth the slowness and discomfort.

Mary Jo, I agree there are Far Too Many Dukes! You would have been falling over them at every turn, even on the stagecoach (as Jenny says!)

[Jo Banks]

Hi Nicola,Hope the shoulder is improving.
I agree with Mary Jo far too many Dukes there wouldn't be room for the rest of the aristocracy let alone the rest of the population !A dashing young Viscount now thats a different matter,preferably being sorted by a feisty intelligent young miss.Swords it has to be tho guns do have their place.A curricle for dashing across country tho again a stage offers interesting characters.I don't like brandy but it definitely has its place for drowning sorrows and the family crest on a signet ring has many uses as suggested before maybe clobbering a smuggler or highwayman?Definitely prefer those two to a pirate I'm not too keen on jolly rogers except Johnny Depp of course!!

[Ella Quinn]

It's horrible to have shoulder problems, I know. I've purposely do not put any dukes in my stories, but I must admit, I don't have any Mr. heros either. I do have Mr.s as secondary characters. For travelling, I like a well appointed private coach. Brandy is a must.

[Diane Sallans]

Ouch - hope your shoulder feels better soon - perhaps a hot stone massage would help.

Here's my choices:
- Duke (one who has to loosen up)
- Debutante (but a feisty one)
- Swords - cause love swashbuckling
- Brandy - does seem manly
- Diamond Cravat Pin - cause it sparkles
- Curricle - cause it's faster & more private
- Pirate - again, swashbuckling

[nancy]

I consider the man and not the rank but would prefer fewer dukes and princes. How about a smart and rich baron , if one must have a titled hero?
I dislike stories about courtesans, pirates, smugglers, and highwaymen. I think any man who is a thief loses the right to be called a gentleman, and I consider smuggler, cat burglars, and highwaymen as thieves.
Duels with pistols are just an excuse to kill. At least with a sword , talent, expertise, and luck play a greater role than with the unromantic pistol.
The carriage should fit the occasion.
I do not know anything about drinks so let the people drink what they want. It seems to me that brandy was considered a universal panacea. I much prefer a signet ring and an unobtrusive but elegant stickpin. I also want the hero to have his tailor make his clothes so that he doesn't rip the sleeves out of his coat if he has to resort to physical violence against a villain or to emergency physical exertion to rescue the heroine.
The heroine can be a widow or a debutante as long as she is virtuous and chaste. Though I do not write inspirationals, my taste runs more that way than to the erotic or sensuous stories.

[j prince]

I prefer a heroine who is somewhat older than a debutante. One that everyone (including herself) considers 'on the shelf'. Then comes the hero, who has to convince her that she is just right for him.

[Margot]

I've just read so many books with dukes that I get a bit tired of them. So I'd definitely pick the Mr.

I prefer debutantes to courtesans, (courtesans just have a bit more angst than I want to read about) but really I'd like a widow (who might have had a few discreet affairs) more than either.

Swords, definitely. They just seem so much more elegant.

Signet ring, but then I just love rings.

Curricle. I mean, would you really pick the bus if you have the option of a fancy car?

Highwaymen. (Like him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlwDrpTq2Mo :D) There's just something dashing about them. The realities of pirating just don't seem all that glamorous when you think about it. At least highwaymen have the possibility of being bathed.

[Barbara]

Signet. Curricle. Something lower than a duke. (How does a guy get to be a Mr.?) Officer, ex-officer. Signet. Hmm. Smuggler (a fake, during the war). Widow. Swords.

[Nicola Cornick]

Thank you for all the wonderful comments and suggestions. Margot, I love the Horrible Histories video!