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The Lady Hannah Wood

The Most Noble Elijah, Duke of Stanford

Lord Dominic Monaghan

First of all, these are the latest from Primula Baggins - beautiful, beautiful pics. Thank you, darling! xxx

The second part is the reply to all your lovely comments on A Regency Tale part 17 - when it became apparent to me that some of you thought Dom had acted badly. I therefore have put up this short explication for your perusal! Some of it is taken from the C4 tv programme, "A Regency House"(Just saved me time!).

Thank you all for reading and taking the time to comment - it makes my day! Loves to you all xxx

It has come to my notice that some of you may be unaware of the rules governing polite society in Regency England, and have taken exception to Dom's behaviour in calling Elijah out for a duel.

I must tell you it would have been thought far more uusual if he had not challenged Elijah, who was supposed to be a virtual stranger, and whose behavior in striking Dom with his foil in the way he did, would have given rise to much comment and speculation as to the specific reasons why Dom had not "called him out!" (Challenged him to a duel)

A Regency gentleman was expected to defend his 'honour' in response to any insult or innuendo directed against him personally, or any threat to his pursuit of romance. Although it was an illegal sport, duelling was common amongst the monied classes.

The playwright, Sheridan, fought two duels with the same man over the same girl. He was nearly killed, but survived to marry her. The dandy Alvanley tipped his jarvey (hackney-cab driver) a whole sovereign after he drove him to a duel. When the driver exclaimed at being tipped so much just for going to Wimbledon, the wit replied, 'No, my good man. I give it to you for bringing me back.'

The rule of honour was so rigid that the smallest infringements could lead to a duel. 'If you looked at a man, (be he an acquantance or stranger,) it was enough; for without having given the slightest offence, cards were exchanged and the odds were that you stood a good chance of being shot, or run through the body, or maimed for life,' wailed Gronow, a perceptive Regency observer.
As you see, men were called out on the slightest provocation - even on no provocation at all.

It was the way things were. I think that sometimes we are all guilty of using present day standards as a bench-mark for what happened in earlier times, so I just thought I'd put this up as a guideline. In fact, Dom had done Elijah a great service by calling him out, because he saved him from unwanted gossip and surmise - now we can only wonder if Elijah realises it!! xxxx