To My Readers
What’s real and what’s make-believe? Here are a few hints. . . .
Yes, the royal family depicted in this story did exist. Queen Victoria ruled the longest of any British monarch to this date—sixty-three years. She and her husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coberg and Gotha, a first cousin, had nine children—four princes and five princesses. All of the children eventually married, and their offspring, in turn, produced rulers and enriched the noble bloodlines of many European countries. (See “Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s Children and Grandchildren” on page viii.)
Much controversy surrounds Princess Louise (later also, the Duchess of Argyll) and her marriage. She was a beloved and respected royal both in her own country and in Canada, where she accompanied her husband, Lorne, on his appointment as governor general of the Dominion of Canada. Gossip, but never proof, surfaced regarding the marquess’s sexual preferences, but, in fact, he and Louise never had children. Another rumor whispered that Louise was unable to have children as a result of a botched abortion during her teenage years. But again, there is no proof. She was affectionately known in the queen’s court, and among the queen’s subjects, as the “wild child” of the royal brood. Her studies (at her own insistence) at the National Art Training School in Kensington (renamed the Royal College of Art) helped her become one of the few recognized female artists of her day.
Stephen Byrne is the fictional hero this author believes Louise deserved. Although various romantic liaisons were suspected during her lifetime, I know of no historian who has successfully confirmed that she indulged in romantic affairs. However, we do know that Louise spent a good deal of time away from Lorne, encouraged by him “for her health,” visiting various spas in Europe; she often traveled great distances on her own. Louise particularly loved Bermuda. The exquisite Hamilton Princess hotel on the island was named after her and opened in 1885. It would be difficult to believe that this fourth and high-spirited princess never experienced passionate love. Thus I gave her the dashing American Civil War hero Stephen Byrne.
The Fenians were a particularly militant group of Irish radical separatists, and they did blow up part of Parliament and various other buildings in London to make their point. Many attempts were made to assassinate Queen Victoria by different political factions. More than one theory exists of a plot to murder HRM on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 1887. In Fenian Fire, author Christy Campbell presents evidence that high-placed members of the British government actually planned to assassinate Victoria and blame it on the Fenians.
If you wish to learn more about Princess Louise’s real life, try checking out these books:
Princess Louise—Queen Victoria’s Unconventional Daughter, by Jehanne Wake (London: Collins, 1988)
Victoria’s Daughters, by Jerrold M. Packard (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998)
Darling Loosy—Letters to Princess Louise 1856–1939, ed. Elizabeth Longford (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1991)
The Life Story of HRH Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, by David Duff (Bath: Cedric Chivers, 1971)
Royal Rebels—Princess Louise and the Marquis of Lorne, by Robert M. Stamp (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1988)
Still not sure what’s history and what’s Mary Hart Perry’s whimsical way of looking at the past? Ask her. You can reach the author at Mary@MaryHartPerry.com. She loves to hear from her readers and will answer your questions. You can also “like” her Facebook page: Mary Hart Perry, or follow her on Twitter @Mary_Hart_Perry.
For more royal intrigue and Victorian romance, look for Princess Louise and Stephen Byrne when they return for guest roles in Seducing the Princess, by Mary Hart Perry, the next novel in the Novels of Queen Victoria’s Daughters series. Youngest of all of Victoria’s children, Beatrice is destined to remain forever her mother’s companion in her declining years, and if the queen gets her way, Bea will remain “pure” and never marry. But attending a royal wedding on the Continent exposes shy Beatrice to temptation in the form of not one but two charming suitors—Prince Henry of Battenberg (one of four famously handsome brothers) and a charismatic Highlander who resembles the recently deceased John Brown, favorite of the queen. Will Beatrice remain meekly loyal to her mother, or fall in love and into a political trap meant to draw England into war?
About the Author
MARY HART PERRY lives in Maryland with her two cats and her husband. She teaches at the Writer’s Center in Washington, D.C., and is an inspiring speaker for international and regional groups interested in the joys of writing and history and the promotion of teen and adult literacy. You can reach her at Mary@MaryHartPerry.com. For news about her appearances and upcoming books, feel free to like her Facebook page, or follow her on Twitter @ Mary_Hart_Perry.
www.MaryHartPerry.com
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