Before the Season Ends

by Linore Rose Burkard

  “Worse. He is a scoundrel, a rake, and a thief. I should think your Miss Herley must run in the opposite direction or her good name will be ruined. You must tell her so.”

  “I must!” Ariana gasped. “As soon as possible!”

  “We can call upon her directly following supper, if you like.”

  She smiled, pleased at this offer. He was not usually sociable with her circle of friends. She smiled even wider at his next words.

  “I will speak to her father myself, if you wish, because I want to please you, my angel.”

  Ariana was so touched by this she was momentarily bereft of words.

  “I love you!” was all she could say.

  “I love you more,” he replied.

  It occurred to her just then that she had a wedding to plan. Not a maybe wedding, or a perhaps-there-shall-be-a wedding, but an honest-to-goodness one, and suddenly it seemed of the utmost importance to finalize the plans.

  “We must discuss our wedding! Who shall perform the ceremony? Where shall we go, afterward? When shall my wardrobe be moved to your house?”

  He laughed aloud. “Your parents and I discussed it at length and your papa is no doubt informing your aunt of the plans as we speak. Speaking of which, you must show me your trousseau so that I may approve it.”

  “Approve it! Did you not dictate what was bespoken? How can you fail to approve it?”

  “I must see the cut of the fabric…The shade and style exactly. Grow accustomed to it, Ariana, for I will always oversee your wardrobe.”

  The swirling black eyes were looking deeply into her own, and Ariana decided at that moment there was no one else on earth whom she would rather have overseeing her wardrobe—or, for that matter, anything else of hers.

  Discussion Questions for Before the Season Ends

  1. Before the Season Ends is set in Regency England. What are some new things you enjoyed learning about the period?

  2. Ariana believed strongly in honouring her faith and her Lord. How do you think a woman who lacks strong convictions can strengthen her faith? Do you know a Christian without strong convictions? How could you use the Bible to try to help her?

  3. Ariana spends a lot of time praying and seeking God. Hebrews 11:6 states that “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (niv). Is Ariana rewarded? How? Are there troublesome things you have brought to God and been rewarded for by His answer?

  4. There’s an old poem that says, “God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.” At one point, Ariana is mystified by how her necessary affiliation with Mr. Mornay can be of God. Later on, she realizes that it is. What are some of the mysterious ways the Lord has worked in your life that seemed negative at the time, only to bring great blessing in the end? Share and discuss an instance.

  5. When Ariana doesn’t hear from her parents, she just “knows” something is wrong. Is your family so close that you would have this reaction? What would be a good way for someone to strengthen their family’s ties if they aren’t close? What is one thing that you do to help strengthen your own family?

  6. Ariana makes a great effort to distinguish between “mere religion,” and “soul-saving faith.” Can you describe the difference in your own words? Why is this difference so important?

  7. In the end, Mr. Mornay says he was amazed to discover that he could actually sense the presence of God. Have you ever experienced that? “Knowing” that God is there, with you? If so, think about it. What were you doing at the time? Were you praying? What difference has it made in your life?

  8. Tell about your experience of sensing God’s presence. Do you think it could happen again? Why or why not?

  9. Based on 2 Corinthians 6:14, Ariana insists she cannot marry “an unbeliever.” Notice, however, that there is no restriction regarding the class, rank, or ethnicity (“race”) of a potential mate. What does this tell you about God? Does He see people as we do, or view them as equals?

  10. Share how this book has been edifying or refreshing with someone else.

  If you enjoyed Before the Season Ends,

  you’ll also love the sequel,

  The House in Grosvenor Square.

  As Ariana Forsythe plans her wedding to Philip Mornay, she must adjust to the realization that she is soon to become the wife of an extremely wealthy man. She wonders if it’s wrong to rejoice that her future husband is rich. But she promises herself to use her new position to do what she can to aid the numerous street waifs she sees all too often in London.

  During a tour of her future home—the house in Grosvenor Square—Ariana makes plans to redecorate according to her tastes. But when Philip arrives home later, he is informed that an expensive silver candlestick and a miniature portrait of George III have gone missing. Moreover, each time Ariana visits the house, accompanied by a friend or relation, another item disappears.

  Shortly thereafter Ariana is abducted as she leaves a performance at Covent Garden Theatre, leaving Philip to unravel the pieces of the mystery. Where has his future bride been taken, and by whom? For what reason? How does Ariana’s faith play a role?

  Finally, after the safe return of his intended, how does Philip—a man of intense discrimination in his tastes—find the many alterations in his house? And what on earth is behind the sudden influx of bills from every charity in London, all thanking him profusely for his uncommon generosity? Will he have second thoughts about his future bride?

  Readers will find romance, intrigue, humor, and inspiration in this new book of spirited romance for the Jane Austen soul.

  Coming April 1, 2009

  If you enjoyed Before the Season Ends,

  you’ll also love the sequel,

  The House in Grosvenor Square.

  As Ariana Forsythe plans her wedding to Philip Mornay, she must adjust to the realization that she is soon to become the wife of an extremely wealthy man. She wonders if it’s wrong to rejoice that her future husband is rich. But she promises herself to use her new position to do what she can to aid the numerous street waifs she sees all too often in London.

  During a tour of her future home—the house in Grosvenor Square—Ariana makes plans to redecorate according to her tastes. But when Philip arrives home later, he is informed that an expensive silver candlestick and a miniature portrait of George III have gone missing. Moreover, each time Ariana visits the house, accompanied by a friend or relation, another item disappears.

  Shortly thereafter Ariana is abducted as she leaves a performance at Covent Garden Theatre, leaving Philip to unravel the pieces of the mystery. Where has his future bride been taken, and by whom? For what reason? How does Ariana’s faith play a role?

  Finally, after the safe return of his intended, how does Philip—a man of intense discrimination in his tastes—find the many alterations in his house? And what on earth is behind the sudden influx of bills from every charity in London, all thanking him profusely for his uncommon generosity? Will he have second thoughts about his future bride?

  Readers will find romance, intrigue, humor, and inspiration in this new book of spirited romance for the Jane Austen soul.

  Coming April 1, 2009

  About the Author

  Linore Rose Burkard lives with her husband and five children in a town full of antique stores and gift shops in southwestern Ohio. She homeschooled her children for ten years. Raised in New York, she graduated magna cum laude from the City University of New York with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature.

  Linore wrote Before the Season Ends because she could not find an Inspirational Regency Romance on the bookshelves of any store. “There are Christian books that approached the genre,” she says, “but they fell short of being a genuine Regency. I finally gave up looking and wrote what I was looking for myself.” She has begun four other works of fiction in the same category, and also enjoys writing articles, reading, parenting, family movie nights, swimming,
and gardening.

  Linore can be reached at: admin@LinoreRoseBurkard.com

  or

  Linore Rose Burkard

  c/o Harvest House Publishers

  990 Owen Loop North

  Eugene, OR 97402

  Be sure and visit her on the web at: http://www.LinoreRoseBurkard.com.

  Sign up for her free mailing list, and get news and announcements of her latest writing projects or books.

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  A Short Glossary for Before the Season Ends

  A

  abigail: (n.) A lady’s maid; any female maid (servant)

  Example: “I see you’ve hired a new abigail.”

  ague: (Rhymes with “achoo!” Pronounced “ah-gyoo”) Originally, malaria and the chills that went with it. Later, any respiratory infection such as a cold, fever, or chills.

  Assembly, Assemblies: Large gatherings held in the evening for the gentry or the aristocracy, usually including a ball and a supper. Almack’s in London was the ultimate Assembly in the early part of the nineteenth century. A number of high society hostesses had autocratic power of attendance as they alone could issue the highly prized vouchers (tickets)—or not—as they chose. Competition to get in was fierce. The Duke of Wellington was once famously turned away for being late.

  B

  ball: A large dance requiring full dress. Refreshments were available, and sometimes a supper. Public balls required tickets; private ones, an invitation.

  Banbury tale: A story with no basis in fact; a rumour; nonsense.

  banns: The banns of marriage were a public announcement in a parish church that two people intended to get married. They had to be read three consecutive weeks in a row, and in the home church of both parties. After each reading (and this was their purpose), the audience was asked to give knowledge of any legal impediments to the marriage. If there were none, after three weeks, the couple was legally able to marry within the next three months, in a church. To bypass the banns, a couple could try to get a marriage license instead. Without banns or a license, the marriage would be illegal (null).

  beau monde, the: The aristocracy and the rich upper class. The “fashionable” elite. In practice, anyone accepted into their circle, for example, a celebrity, became part of it.

  blunt: (slang) Cash; ready money

  C

  Carlton House: Given to the Prince of Wales by George III upon reaching his majority, Carlton House was in a state of disrepair (for a royal, at any rate). The house consequently underwent enormous alterations and changes, and was the London palace for the Regent. He spent a great deal of time there but eventually came to favour the palace at Brighton—an even larger extravagance. The Brighton “Pavilion” is today a museum, but Carlton House, unfortunately, no longer exists.

  chamber: A private room in a house, such as a bedroom, as opposed to the parlour or dining room.

  chaperon: The servant, mother, or married female relative or family friend who supervised eligible young girls in public.

  chemise: A woman’s long undergarment which served as a slip beneath her gown. Also, a nightdress. (Previously, the chemise was called a shift.)

  chintz: A patterned cloth, usually floral, with a pleasant satiny “shine” for texture.

  chit: A young girl

  clubs: The great refuge of the middle and upper-class man in eighteenth and nineteenth century London. Originating as coffeehouses in the seventeenth century, clubs became more exclusive, acquiring prime real estate on Pall Mall and St. James’ Street. Membership was often by invitation only. Among the more prominent were Boodle’s, White’s, and Brooke’s. Crockford’s began to dominate in the very late Regency.

  consumption: pulmonary tuberculosis (TB)

  corset: A precursor of the modern bra, usually meant to constrict the waist to a fashionable measurement as well as support the high bust required for a Regency gown. It consisted of two parts, reinforced with whalebone, that hooked together in front and laced in the back. The garment could also be referred to as “the stays.”

  countess: The wife of an earl in England. When shires were changed to counties, an earl retained the Norman title of earl; his wife, however, became a countess.

  cravat: (pronounced as “kruh-vaht,” with the accent on the second syllable) A loose cloth that is tied around the neck in a bow. Throughout the Regency, a fashionable gentleman might labour much over this one detail of his appearance, hoping to achieve a number of different, much coveted effects.

  curricle: A two-wheeled carriage that was popular in the early 1800s. It was pulled by two horses, and deemed rather sporty by the younger set.

  curtsey: The acceptable mode of greeting or showing respect by a female. By mid-century the curtsey was less in evidence except for social inferiors such as maids to their betters, or by any woman presented at court.

  cut: An effective means of social discouragement that involved pretending not to know or see a person who was trying to be acknowledged. A woman might use this technique to discourage unwelcome attentions from a gentleman; but many others cut people, too. Getting the “cut direct” from a social superior was vastly humiliating.

  D

  Debrett’s: An annually published guide to the peerage, often called simply, “the Society Book.”

  dowager: The name given to a widow of rank. For example, if you were a duchess, and your husband died and your oldest son was married, his wife would become the duchess, and you would become the dowager duchess.

  draper (linen draper): Merchant who sold cloth

  drawing room: A formal parlour used in polite society to receive visitors who came to pay calls during the afternoon.

  F

  first floor: The second floor in the United States. The English called the street-level floor the “ground floor.” Entertaining was never done on the ground floor.

  foolscap: A paper of certain dimensions, some varieties of which originally bore a watermark of a fool’s cap and bells.

  footman: A liveried male servant beneath the butler but above the boy or page. He had many duties ranging from errands to lamp-trimming to waiting table, or accompanying the lady of the house to carry packages when she shopped, or to deliver calling cards when making calls.

  fortnight: Two weeks.

  fustian!: “Nonsense!” “Don’t be absurd!”

  G

  gaming: Gambling. Nothing to do with “game” in the sense of hunting, or innocent playing of games.

  gig: A one-horse carriage. Light, two-wheeled, and popular in the early century.

  groom: The servant who looked after the horses

  Grosvenor Square: (pronounced “Grove-nuh”) A part of Mayfair, considered the most fashionable square in London. Mr. Mornay’s town house is in the Square.

  H

  hack: A general-purpose riding horse, but the term might also refer to a “hackney coach,” which was a coach-for-hire much like a taxicab today.

  L

  Ladies’ Mile: A (horseback) riding road in Hyde Park for women

  lady’s maid: The servant who cared for her mistress’s wardrobe and grooming. A French lady’s maid was preferred, and she was particularly valued if she could do hair in all the fashionable styles. A lady’s maid was an “upper servant,” and could not be fired by the housekeeper; she might also be better educated than the lower servants.

  lorgnette: Used by la
dies, the lorgnette was a pair of eyeglasses (or a monocle), held to the eyes with a long handle, or it could be worn on a chain around the neck. The monocle used by a man was called a “quizzing glass.”

  laudanum: A mixture of opium in a solution of alcohol, it was used for pain relief and as an anesthetic.

  livery: A distinctive uniform worn by the male servants in a household. No two liveries, ideally, were exactly alike. Knowing the colour of the livery of someone could enable you to spot their carriage in a crowd. The uniform itself was an old-fashioned style, including such things as a frock coat, knee breeches, powdered wigs, and a waistcoat.

  M

  Mayfair: The ritziest residential area of London, in the West End, and only about a half mile square in size.

  mews, the: Any lane or open area where a group of stables was situated. The town houses of the rich often had a mews behind them, or nearby, where they kept their horses and equipages when not in use.

  muslin: One of the finest cottons, muslin was semitransparent and very popular for gowns (beneath which a chemise would be worn).

  O

  on-dit: (French; literally, “It is said.”) In the Regency it was slang for a bit of gossip.

  P

  Pall Mall: A fancy street in the West End of London, notable for housing some of the most fashionable men’s clubs. Carlton House faced Pall Mall.

  pantaloons: Tight-fitting pants that became fashionable beginning in the early 1800s, and which pushed breeches out of fashion except for formal occasions. Pantaloons had a “stirrup” at the bottom to keep them in place.

  parlour: The formal or best room in a modest home. Grand houses often had more than one; a “first” or “best,” and a “second parlour.”

  peer: A nobleman, that is, a titled gentleman with the rank of either duke, marquis (pronounced “mar-kwiss”), viscount (pronounced “vy-count”), or baron. The titles were hereditary, and the owners were entitled to a seat in the House of Lords.