Anne here, interviewing Mary Jo Putney about NOT QUITE A WIFE, the latest in the wonderful "Lost Lords" series — which goes on sale tomorrow. Mary Jo, congratulations on this release. Another excellent read.
A starred review from Library Journal described NOT QUITE A WIFE thus: "A deeply caring, capable heroine who struggles with her feelings about violence and a ruthless, protective spymaster hero with a well-honed sense of justice gradually work through their differences to find common ground in this provocative, penetrating romance. Undeniable passion wars with clashing views on right and wrong in another memorable masterpiece from one of the genre's best. Gorgeously done."
Kirkus Reviews said: "Elegant and tender; a compelling sweep of romance and adventure with a gratifying undertone of social justice elements."
This story is linked to the others in the series through The Westerfield Academy — the boarding school for "boys of good birth and bad behavior" that James Kirkland attended, along with his good friend, the heroine's brother.
Kirkland, and his heroine Laurel, were in fact, very young when they met, fell madly in love, married . . . and parted, after Laurel witnessed a shocking act of violence on the part of her young husband. The story starts ten years later when, after a long separation, a chance meeting leads to a brief, passionate encounter. . . and unexpected consequences.
Anne: Mary Jo, tell us about Kirkland and his heroine, Laurel.
MJP: James Kirkland is the enigmatic spymaster who has had roles in all the other books. He's deeply loyal to his friends and his country, and I've portrayed him as lonely and rather haunted. We find out why at the very beginning of the book when it turns out he married young and had been estranged for over ten years. His emotions are deep and well controlled. He does guilt well. <G>
He fell in love with Laurel for her warmth and kindness, qualities he is in desperate need of. Music is also a deep bond that they share. I don't have much in the way of musical talent or knowledge, but I loved the idea that it was through music that two such different people could connect and express their love for each other.
That idea is beautifully illustrated in this youtube video of a four-handed rendition of Vivaldi's Spring from the Four Seasons. Imagine Kirkland and Laurel playing together like that!
Anne: Laurel is an idealistic young woman, devoted to the good works she and her brother provide for local woman in particular. It was a time when young women of birth, principle and education increasingly grew involved with charitable works. Why do you think this was so?
MJP: I think it was a consequence of the 18th century Enlightenment, also called the Age of Reason. Hierarchy and the great chain of being got tossed in favor of logic and valuing of individuals. There was also the influence of evangelicals like the anti-slavery reformers William Wilberforce and Hannah More. Charitable works gave meaningful outlets to women like Laurel. She's not the only one of my heroines to have such reformist tendencies! I'm pretty sure that says something about me. <G>
A lighter bit of research was on Berkeley Square (above), where Kirkland House is located. In real life, it was also the location of the famous Gunter's Tea Shop, which often appears in Regency romances as a place where the fashionable can nibble on deliciously flavored ice while sitting in one's carriage, chatting with one's beaux. It's an important location in the book, and yes, that also says something about me. <G>
(Note the icecreams above are made from Georgian-era recipes by Ivan Day, and are from his Historic Food site, used with permission. Front - from left to right - bergamot water ice and punch water ice. Back - left to right - royal cream ice, chocolate cream ice, burnt filbert cream ice and parmesan cream ice.)
Anne: There's a subplot involving slavery -- it's not an area often touched on in Regency-era stories? What prompted it?
MJP: Again, that's from my own personal outrage at the sheer, evil wrongness of slavery. One of my historical fantasy romances, A Distant Magic, is built around the 18th Century British abolition movement. These great social changes are one of the things that make the Georgian and Regency eras so interesting.
Anne: I agree. Can you give us a brief taste of NOT QUITE A WIFE?
MJP: Here's a bit when they've met up again. Kirkland had been mugged in Bristol and was taken to the infirmary run by his estranged wife, Laurel, and her brother.
Keeping his voice equally businesslike, he said, “Thank you for caring for me. Bristol is lucky to have you and Daniel and your infirmary.” He lifted the purse of coins Rhodes had left and handed it to her. “To help others.”
She accepted the purse with a nod of thanks. “You’re already supporting most of the infirmary through the income you settled on me when we separated, but this will be put to good use.”
“I’m sure.” He hesitated, wanting to say something more significant. “Though it was an accident, I’m not sorry I ended up here. It’s good to know you’re well and doing meaningful work.”
Her expression softened. “I’m also glad to see you. I had a sense of incompleteness about our…relationship. Now it feels properly finished.”
It was a marriage, not a relationship. Luckily, he was good at concealing pain. “Will you tell your brother I was here?”
She shrugged. “Not unless someone on the staff mentions to Daniel that we treated a lord while he was away and he asks me about it.”
“That will spare his temper.” Knowing it was time to leave, Kirkland stood, willing himself not to sway. “If you ever need my aid, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“That’s unlikely to be necessary,” she said in a cool voice.
He suspected that her real reaction was I’ll ask for your help when there are icicles in hell, but she was too much a lady to say that. Since he might fall over if he tried to bow, he just inclined his head. “Goodbye, Laurel. And thank you.”
He took one last, lingering look, committing to memory her grace and grave intelligence. His wife had been a lovely girl. Now she was a quietly beautiful woman, no longer his.
Never again his.
After James left, Laurel sank into the chair beside the examination table and locked her shaking hands in her lap. Thank heaven he was gone, and she’d managed not to lose her composure. It was rather shocking how deeply he still affected her. The reverse wasn’t true. He had been glad to see, but he’d left without looking back.
Pray God the blasted man didn’t end up in her infirmary again.
Anne: I love that point in the novel, where the reader just knows their expectations are going to go horribly, deliciously wrong. So, what are you working on now? Who's next in the series?
MJP: I'm now madly immersed in Lost Lords #7, Not Always a Saint. The hero is Laurel's brother Daniel, and the heroine is a new character. He's the saint, she's the wicked woman. <G>
Anne: Sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks so much for this interview, Mary Jo — I'm sure readers are looking forward to reading this story as much as I was. And they won't be disappointed.
MJP: Thanks, Anne.
Mary Jo is giving away a copy of NOT QUITE A WIFE to some who leaves a comment or tells us -- what's your favorite ice-cream flavor? And what's the most unusual icecream you've ever had?