posted on November 3, 2017 by Janna MacGregor

LADY EMMA CAVENSHAM’S SCANDALOUS THOUGHTS ON MARRIAGE

by Janna MacGregor

The second book in my Cavensham Heiresses series, THE BRIDE WHO GOT LUCKY, released this week. The couple introduced in THE BAD LUCK BRIDE, Lady Emma Cavensham and Nicholas St. Mauer, the Earl of Somerton, both oppose marriage for entirely different but similar reasons.

Aha! I hope that got your attention.

Both oppose marriage as they believe it will curtail their individual freedom. Emma’s concern is more political in that she sees marriage as a device that eliminates women’s individual identities. During the Regency period of history, when a woman married, her identity merged with her husband’s—meaning all her personal rights came under her husband’s domain. For example, a single woman could enter a contract, but a married woman? Not so much. She lost that right when she said, “I do.” Only with her husband’s approval could she enter such an agreement after marriage. Emma sees marriage as nothing more than a cage, one a woman could only escape from under the rarest of circumstances. Divorce during this time was practically impossible. For a lot of women, “death do us part” was sometimes the only path to freedom.

Somerton’s reason is more personal. He doesn’t want any distractions from his work. His personal goal is to amass a fortune greater than his father’s wealth. Marriage would only get in the way of his goal. Though these two are “frenemies,” they’re perfect for one another and can’t resist the special chemistry that draws them together. Their journey to a happily ever after is a bit rocky, but the destination is pure joy.

The auto-icon copyright by University College London

I was inspired to write their story after reading about the fascinating life of Jeremy Bentham. The English philosopher Jeremy Bentham lived from 1748-1832 and was a prolific writer. Sadly, he never wrote the book Emma searches for in the story. BENTHAM’S ESSAYS was my own personal creation. Besides being called the father of Utilitarianism, he’s credited as the spiritual founder of the University College of London. Many folks know of Mr. Bentham because his preserved body, fully dressed in his own clothing, rests in a wooden cabinet at the end of the South Cloisters of the main building of UCL. In July of 2013, “the old radical” was present for a UCL board meeting. It took three men to move his body.

What made him fascinating to me was his forward thinking views on women, sexuality, and individual rights. In THE WORKS OF JEREMY BENTHAM, Vol. 2 (Judicial Procedure, Anarchical Fallacies, works on Taxation), he calls women “the best half of the human species.” He was critical of an English wife’s lack of standing in society and in the institution of marriage. Years before the publication of Mary Wollstonecraft’s VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN, Mr. Bentham wrote and argued for divorce and equal political powers for women.

He never married. However, I have little doubt that his ideas of feminism would be whole-heartedly embraced by Lady Emma Cavensham. Is it any wonder that she spent so much time and effort to acquire Bentham’s Essays?

Happily for Emma and Somerton, they find their way to accept and embrace each other’s differences while celebrating the great love and friendship they share. They both become more enlightened because of their marriage. Now, that in my humble opinion is a perfect marriage.

       

Janna MacGregor

Janna MacGregor

Following the doctor’s cheerful announcement of triplets, the first thing Janna MacGregor did was pick her darling husband off the floor. The second thing she did was make a decision about what to do with all her newfound free time. Take her word for it, mandatory bed rest can skew one’s perceptions. During her sojourn in bed, Janna remembered her attorney-husband’s sage advice that successful attorneys always have the last word in an argument. Taking these wise words to heart, she became an attorney and soon was managing partner of his law firm. She is certain he and their triplets rue the day he ever made that comment.

After living in a variety of Midwestern cities, she settled in Kansas City Missouri, the crown jewel of the Midwest and home of her favorite team, the Kansas City Royals. Through all her wanderings, she has always found time to read passionate, sweeping romances. It didn’t take long for her to decide to add Author on her resume. Practicing law by day, she writes sexy historicals set in the Regency period whenever she is not in court arguing those last words.

Join her and escape in stories about compelling and powerful heroines meeting and falling in love with their equally matched heroes. Remember—every romance should be messy, carnal and forever.

https://www.jannamacgregor.com

2 thoughts on “LADY EMMA CAVENSHAM’S SCANDALOUS THOUGHTS ON MARRIAGE”

  1. denise says:

    That’s so fascinating!

    1. Hi Denise! Thank you for stopping by. I glad you enjoyed my little explanation for Emma’s fascination with Jeremy Bentham! My son studied abroad at UCL where he became a big fan of the philosopher. Hope you have a marvelous weekend. Best, Janna

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