Hi, Jo here, with the toys en masse.
I thought I'd offer a strange but true story from the past. If we tried to pass this one off in a romance novel, we'd probably be told it was unbelievable.
The Cottage Countess
In 1789 a stranger arrived in the Shropshire village of Great Bolas and took a room at the inn. He introduced himself as John Jones and though clearly an educated gentleman, took part in village affairs, even playing the violin in the inn for dancing. The village beauty, 16-year-old Sarah Hoggins, took a great fancy to him, but he was twenty years older.
People were generally suspicious of strangers, especially strangers with ample money and no need to work, and some even began to say he was a highwayman. Instead of leaving, John Jones bought some land and planned a house there, Bolas Villa. He left to go to England, but only to git the money. When he returned, he moved into the Hoggins home until his new house was ready, and there was a general expectation that he would marry Sarah.
However, at this point he revealed the truth, or so the story goes. As with many old tales, it's not clear what's truth and what's whitewash.
He wasn't John Jones, he was Henry Cecil, nephew of the Earl of Exeter, and he was already married. As a young man, he had married Emma Vernon, but the marriage had failed and she'd run off with another. At this time of stress, Henry had assumed the persona of John Jones and ended up in Great Bolas.
The aspect that makes me wonder if he did tell all is that not long afterward "John Jones" and Sarah Hoggins were married. From the parish register.
"13 Apr 1790 No. 54. John Jones of this parish and Sarah Hoggins
of this parish were married in this Church by Licence this 13 Apr 1790
by me Cresswell Tayleur. This Marriage was solemnized between Us John
Jones, Sarah Hoggins In the presence of John Picken, Sarah Adams."
Henry did manage to get a divorce, but not until June 1791. At that point he and Sarah married again in London, and it's after that that their first child is born. Again, from the register. "27 Feb 1792 Sophia, d. of John and Sarah Jones was baptd. 27 Feb 1792 " That's close to 9 months, which makes me wonder if the first, bigamous marriage wasn't consummated. After all, Henry would know that if he and Sarah had a son outside of legitimate marriage the son could never inherit the family title. But in that case, why marry at all? Bigamy was a serious crime.
Anyone want to speculate?
However, in 1794 his uncle died and he became Earl of Exeter and owner, among other properties, of Burghley House, one of the most impressive and important Elizabethan palaces. Sarah was tossed into aristocratic life and there seems no record of her reactions.
I hope this couple enjoyed happiness and love. They were not to have the "happily ever after", alas. Sarah died three weeks after the birth of her third son in 1797 at the age of 24. Nearly four years later, Exeter married the Duchess of Hamilton, who had been divorced in 1794 "at her suit" according to this site.
Divorce initiated by the woman was rare. If anyone has time to try to chase up the details of that, have at it! By the way, he was the son of one of the famous Gunning sisters.
Henry died in 1804 at the age of 50, and was succeeded by his son Brownlow, aged 9. He died in 1867.
John Jones/Henry Cecil seems to have settled into the life of a country gentleman with ease and perhaps he and Sarah would have been happier like that. There seems no way to tell.
This is Burghley. You can take a little tour of it here. As you'll see below, the general belief is that when Henry took Sarah there she had no idea what was ahead of her. Want to speculate on her reaction?
I found most of this information in a little booklet called "The Lord of Burghley and Sarah Hoggins," by David J L Elderwick, which seems to have been self published in 1982.
I did find one story about this marriage in an anecdote about the artist, Lawrence. "His Lordship's first marriage had been unfortunate, and his second was at least singular. Disturbed in mind at the unhappy result of his first union, he had retired to a farm-house near Shrewsbury, where he lived incog., and solaced himself in rural musings. His command ofmoney, and his want of employment, at last set the busy gossips of the neighbourhood at conjectures, and inferences were drawn not very favourable to his character and sources of indolent support. At last, his host thought of cutting acquaintance, partly on this score, and partly because the neighbourhood began to think him attached to his daughter. "But," replied the noble recluse, " what would you say, if I really loved Sarah Hoggins, and married her ?" This altered the case. The wedding was agreed upon, the parties repaired to Burghley, and until they arrived at the splendid palace of the Cecils, Sarah Hoggins had no idea that she was to be the Marchioness of Exeter."
Did he perhaps only marry her to preserve his protective country escape?
What do you think? Is truth stranger than fiction? The hero of one of my stories in Lovers and Ladies has a wife who's run off.
Do you know of other unlikely historical matches? Please share the details. And just to share the thrill, A Lady's Secret, which will be out in just over a month (yikes!) has received a wonderful review from Romantic Times. "Extraordinary storyteller Beverley mixes witty repartee, danger and simmering sensuality with 
her strong and engaging characters, including a fetching Papillon, in this delightful, delicious gem of a book." Doesn't get much better than that, does it!
Raise a glass of champagne, port, or ice tea -- whatever is your tipple of choice.
Jo