LOL. Mary Jo! Yes, I still wrestle with construction and wordiness too Certain patterns seemed ingrained and I have to consciously fight them. As for the trad Regencies, I think you're right in that the cadence and structure was different. Maybe it was the that at the time, we were all encouraged to "sound" very Regency, which seemed to translate into a very formal. old-fashioned style of writing. Today, modern readers are, IMO, less concerned with recreating the feel of that style. As you say, the heart of the books are the stories, and readers respond to a good story! And oh were the Signet stories good! They made me want to be a writer.

Ha, ha, Pat. I wonder if the floating hands are a rite of passage! (Or maybe they just grabbed out keyboard and wrote themselves into the story.)

Oh, what a fun post, Anne! Just love the Rowlandson print—I have to say, I've learned so much about the era by looking at his art. I loved seeing what an actual Bath Chair looked like! But back to undies—which is what I call them. I wear jeans most of the time, and well, the fabric and seams are , er, sturdy. So going commando just wouldn't be very comfortable. So I'm pretty much a traditionalist in terms of undergarments. (I,too, was admonished by mother to always wear neat, spiffy underwear in case of an accident. I wonder if kids are told that today. Somehow, I doubt it.)

Janice, we may have to call on you as the tech reading guru. I'm very impressed that you can read on your phone—that still flummoxes me!

Artemisia, that's a big problem,and frustrating, though understandable with space constraints. I guess that one good reason to appreciate e-books, as some older, hard-to-find titles can be located and enjoyed digitally.

Huzzah for you, Kylan! You fit right in here at the Wenches!

Theo, I'm ab ig fan of the Bridgertons too. Lots of fun characters and witty dialogue.

Books and museums—you and I have VERY similar tastes, Karin!

Susanna, I love the encyclopedic books too. Am fascinated by science,but need a layman's explanation!

Kylan, you've got a full shelf too! Thanks for sharing.

Wow, Janga, you have been a very busy reader!Now I feel guilty for not having read any poetry for ages. Sigh. So little time, so much to read!

HJ, I'm also looking forward to Deanna Raybourn's new book, as I'm a big fan of the Lady Julia series.

Marguerite, thanks for sharing! Boyd's book sounds wonderful, and it's an era I love, so have added it to my list!

What a fascinating post, Isolde! Love the details of your research, and the process of how you wove it all into your own unique story. History has so many compelling individuals—it's wonderful to see how they can inspire such great stories. Thanks so much for visiting the Wenches.

Karin, I totally agree—three is impossible. Love the Frick too. Will have to put the New Jersey museums on my "must-see" list.

Laura, Botticelli is one of my favorites, so visiting the Uffizi is truly amazing. And yes, David is divine!

Theo, the Smithsonian is so wonderful—love them all! (How can one not squee with delight when seeing the Hope Diamond, which was owned by Prinny, and Marie Antoinette, among others!)

Oh, Anne, that McQueen fashion exhibit at the Met was amazing! I feel so very fortunate to be close to NYC and all its incredible museums—and then I'm close enough to Washington DC and Boston to occasionally see their treasures too. Very lucky, indeed! Your costume museum sounds to die for!

LynS, I'll come along on the English museum trip! Love the British Museum too.

Thanks, Theo—I am now adding this to my TRB pile!

LOL on the cat hole, Mary Jo! I've gotten SO many ideas for details or even plot points from msueums. Seeing something from a era often sparks that "ah-ha!" moment doesn't it? Love that feeling of discovery and wonder. Oh, the Museum of London had LOTS of those moments.

Oh, the Uffizi is wonderful, isn't it, Ella! I also have to add the Hermitage in St, Petersburg as an absolutely spectacular place.

Glad you enjoyed it, Fiona.