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A Love Unquenchable is a Regency Romance by Rosie Chapel
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Jessica Drummond, a bright and cheerful young woman, rarely gives romance, let alone love, a thought. Long hours working in her brother’s shipping office affords little chance of her ever meeting an eligible bachelor.
Duncan Barrington, veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, believes himself wounded in both body and soul. He has no intention of inflicting his demons on anyone, certainly not a beautiful and, in his opinion, irresponsible city lady.
One cold & snowy morning, the plight of a bedraggled puppy throws Jessica and Duncan together and, as a spark of something indefinable yet wholly unquenchable begins to burn, it is unclear who rescued whom.
A Word from the Author
Jessica Drummond began badgering me to write her romance, long before I was finished with the story about her brother, Hugh — Love on a Winter’s Tide. For some reason, however, A Love Unquenchable took much longer to complete than any of my previous three Regency novels and I think it might be because of the subject matter. When I began this book, I had no intention of writing about battle injuries, trauma, and treatments; if they appeared at all it would be as a side note and certainly not the main theme. As ever with stories and the characters therein, things unfolded in a most unexpected manner and, one day while I was researching artificial limbs and whether they had even been invented or were accessible in the Regency period, my background plot was born.
We are lucky in the 21st century; there are many different forms of counselling and rehabilitation available for returned servicemen, but what, if anything was offered 200 years ago? Questions regarding how those suffering serious trauma or long-term injuries were evaluated and managed plagued me. Their plight prompting me to wonder whether there were any establishments — other than Bethlem Royal Hospital (popularly known as Bedlam and synonymous with insanity) and where many ended up — whose aim was to provide a safe environment in which veterans might learn how to deal with mental and/or physical wounds, allowing them time to heal and hopefully go on to enjoy meaningful lives. It was certainly an interesting subject and while I was unable to find any specific reference to such places, their presence didn’t seem completely improbable. It was these questions, which refused to be quieted and so my story followed a completely unanticipated direction, but one I feel is the better for it.
Duncan Barrington appeared in my first two Regency novels and I really wanted him to have his own happily ever after, it seemed fitting after all he had suffered. Injured in the Napoleonic Wars, Duncan was fortunate to have friends who supported him on his return. Now, he works at Whiteoaks, the Earl of Winchester’s estate, his maimed arm in no way hampering his new found skill as a carpenter. A Love Unquenchable begins one wintry morning when Duncan meets Jessica. She is staying at Whiteoaks with her family and, during a morning walk in the snow, rescues a very bedraggled puppy. A city lady and a country carpenter, at first glance, their lives seem poles apart and their romance is not easy. Duncan still battles demons and has no desire to inflict his black moods on another, but Jessica is one very determined young lady.
When I was trying to come up with the title for this book, I came across several quotes about love, and one, which resonated with me, was by of all people, Bruce Lee (possibly inspired by an earlier quote from Henry Ward Beecher). Yes, I know he wasn’t even a figment of his grandparents’ imaginations in the Regency era, but his words hold, I hope you think so too.
“Love is like a friendship caught on fire.
In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce,
but still only light and flickering.
As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals,
deep-burning and unquenchable.”
(Rosie Chapel, September 2017)
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