“Hugh will be thrilled that there are more boy cousins.” The man strolled into the room and glanced around. “I see I am a bit de trop. I shall go down and announce the news.”

“I’ll go with you. We must have a meal served up here and in the family dining room.”

Eleanor grinned at John. “Congratulations, my lord. You have sons.”

He kissed her lightly on the lips. “Congratulations, my lady, you have sons.”

AUTHOR’S NOTES

AUTHOR’S NOTES

In 1821, Almack’s was still a necessary venue for marriage-minded ladies. The Patronesses, more properly called the Lady Patronesses, did indeed run it like a fiefdom. Money played no part in being able to procure a voucher. Rank and bloodlines were what was important. But even some in the highest ranks were not allowed to attend if they led dissolute lives or had insulted one or more of the Patronesses. The dress code was strictly enforced, and it is true that Wellington was denied permission to enter. Some accounts say it was because he wore trousers and some say because he had arrived after eleven, the cut-off time to enter.

There are some words that might have sounded strange to you. I used “gigglish” instead of “giggly” because the latter was not used until after the middle of the century.

Interestingly, ladies’ fashions were not changing much at this time. The high waist was still fashionable, although the skirts were fuller. However, gentlemen’s fashions were changing. Trousers, a narrower cut than used for day wear, were beginning to be accepted for evening wear. The exceptions were at Court and at Almack’s.

A chapeau bras—which really did fold—had been de rigueur for evening wear. But by 1821, collapsible top hats were more common and the chapeau bras was only required at court and at Almack’s. Truthfully, I have no idea what gentlemen did with their hats. I do know that they could not dance with them. Ergo they must have gone in the cloakroom.

Eleanor and John were twenty years ahead of their time trying to write bills concerning mine reform. The first bill to pass was the Mines Act of 1842. It restricted working underground in mines to men and boys ten and older. Before then, children as young as four were found working underground. The act also allowed miners to select inspectors from their ranks. English miners do not seem to have been treated as badly as in the United States, where they were paid in company paper and not real currency, but there was plenty of mistreatment of the workers by the companies and the overseers.

Giuditta Pasta was a famous opera singer who was performing in London during 1821. She has been described as a nineteenth-century Maria Callas. In 1821, she performed in the opera Norma, which Bellini wrote for her.