Ellamir
Handsome, clever and rich, Miss Ellamir Oakhall lacks neither fortune nor consequence, and is decidedly not in want of a husband
When the worlds of Regency Romance and High Fantasy collide, what can but be expected than an exceedingly elegant chaos?
A not-so-classic Regency romance
The unmarried young ladies of Upthorpe Thoroughbourne, where eligible gentlemen are tolerably scarce, are filled with hopeful curiosity when a neighbouring estate is purchased at last. Intrigue turns to outrage, however, when it emerges that it is a party of retired adventurers who are to set up home right on their well-kept doorsteps. Only Miss Ellamir Oakhall is apparently indifferent, but even she could find her eminently comfortable situation turned to confusion.
Admirers of the novels of Jane Austen (or their screen adaptations) will recognise some of her best-known characters among the residents of Upthorpe, as they respond to the incursion of this diverse party of new neighbours from beyond their own borders. For some, it is unquestionably a great threat to their genteel way of life; for others, it may be a chance for new society, perhaps even matrimony? One thing is certain: the quiet verdure of their rural parish will never be the same again!
Enduring Themes
- Period Drama
- High Fantasy
- Cute Cottagecore
- Sapphic Sweethearts
- Found Feminism
- Infamous Characters
Eminent Influences
- Jane Austen
- Patrick O'Brian
- J. R. R. Tolkien
Ellamir arrives in late 2026!
Read an Extract
Chapter 1
There can be few occasions in the communal life of a respectable village more likely to excite comment than that of the imminent arrival of a new and as yet unknown neighbour. A newcomer, by virtue of their wealth, circumstance or infamy, may have so considerable an effect upon the fortunes of the community that it cannot but be expected that they should be the subject of much speculation, in proportion to their supposed consequence. So it was, then, that rumour of a gentleman of such substance as to be able to purchase the Keaning estate had great capacity for speculation, so many speculations, indeed, that a single sitting of an eminent lady’s morning gathering in the neighbouring village of Upthorpe Thoroughbourne could scarcely be sufficient to entertain them all.
“A very good fortune, no doubt,” said Lady Lamont, who held a certain authority but little reputation for accuracy, “yet, I am persuaded, not possessed of a title; for were an ennobled gentleman in search of a seat in these parts, I should certainly have heard of it.”
To this assertion, her ladyship’s assembled friends and those neighbours whom she condescended to invite were all ready to agree: undoubtedly, they said, nodding to each other, it must be so. It had better be so, a few of them reflected privately, for it was fairly well understood that any person of noble blood coming into the neighbourhood that might implicitly challenge Lady L’s primacy of societal rank could not but be the object of her most determined resentment.
“Possessed not of a title, perhaps,” said Miss Minton slyly, “but might he be possessed of a wife?” This was more to the point for the younger ladies, who would be prepared to overlook any deficiency in noble blood where ample means and good character were present, for Upthorpe was a parish lamentably little populated with single gentlemen of good fortune, and many were in want of a husband.
“Could Mr Yates not provide any further information, Lady Lamont, even to yourself?” asked Mrs Tinsley, a genteel woman much to be relied upon to support her distinguished friend’s self-enamour. Lady Lamont shook her head, smiling approvingly at the compliment.
“I believe not, my dear Mrs Tinsley, not even to myself. No doubt an attorney of Mr Yates’ experience will have a legal reason for guarding the details of the conveyance with secrecy. However, with a little natural penetration, perhaps one may draw a conclusion or two, and I must tell you that I do have reason to greatly fear…”
Lady Lamont paused, teacup and saucer poised beneath her imperiously pursed lips, and dutifully her audience widened their eyes and leant forwards: whatever was liable to inspire great fear in their venerable patroness was indeed a matter of significant concern and undeniable interest, or at the very least, it was their duty to appear as if it was. Certainly it was known to all that some odd stories had been circulating among the lesser residents and servants: a tale of a peculiarly large wolf killed at a farmstead not fifteen miles hence; a sighting of a party of dwarves on the High Road, armed to the teeth and bemoaning, as usual, some injustice or other; a swarthy fellow passing through the village who was rumoured by the patrons of the tavern he frequented to be a rogue; and worst of all, reports of elvish activity not far north of the parish boundary. It seemed that suddenly, threats to civilised life were being spoken of everywhere. What monstrous new horror had now been brought to Lady Lamont’s attention?
"Yes, I greatly fear," she repeated, "that the abbey and its lands have been purchased with new money!”
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