Oct
Haunted Ballroom
We’ve had vampires. We’ve had modern people. We’ve had ballroom guests from all over the world.
Jousting knights in the 15th-century
But for the first time ever I introduce to you—right here in the ballroom—a medieval lord! Oh, and by the way, he’s a ghost.
Me: Welcome to the ballroom, Lord Iversly.
Iversly: Charmed, my dear.
Me: Everybody, this is Lord Rhys Iversly, the villain of my new Regency ghost novel, Captive Bride. Although I don’t think he’s a villain at all, really. Just terribly tormented by an awful incident in his past. His living past, that is. Before he died, you know, and started haunting a castle.
Iversly: Good of you to clarify that.
Me: Speaking of clarity, let’s be very clear here: I can’t see you. And if any of our guests can see you that means they’re—
Iversly: Maidens.
Me: So, lovelies, I won’t be testing anybody about what Rhys looks like here today, k? Let me just assure you, he’s tall, dark and a wee bit forbidding.
Iversly: A wee bit?
Me: I’m biased toward your better side.
Iversly: Foolish female.
Me: I knew you’d say that and I’ll let you get away with it because you’re medieval. But you can’t hide the truth. You’re a noble fellow, Rhys, no matter what you wish everyone to believe. And I know why.
Iversly: Managing female.
Halloween happily ever after!
Me: Job description of an author! But let’s get back to the point. You’re from the Middle Ages. The star-crossed lovers of Captive Bride, Bea Sinclaire and Lord Peter Cheriot, on the other hand, exist here in the space-time continuum locale that is Regency England.
Iversly: Do recall, madam, that I also exist in the Regency era.
Me: Yes, but you’re four hundred years old.
Iversly: Nay. I am five and thirty.
Me: A) You’ve been on the earth in some form or another since the early fifteenth century, which means you are in fact four hundred years old, and B) it’s so incredibly nice to talk with a ballroom guest that understands the space-time continuum!
Iversly: I live it every day.
Me: (bouncing up and down a little on the balls of my feet) Which is why you do what you do in Captive Bride for Bea and Peter!
Iversly: I haven’t an idea of what you speak. Women are irrational.
Me: No we aren’t. We’re fabulous. And so are you. You’re the anti-hero I always dreamed of.
Iversly: I would bow, but it would be pointless.
Lady B: Miss Ashe, with whom are you speaking?
Me: Lord Iversly. He’s a ghost.
Lady B: (Lifts her lorgnette and peers at the space in front of me.) Lord Iversly, are you there, or is this gel gammoning me? My authoresses like to tease.
Iversly: Madam, it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.
Me: Oh, that was a lot more polite than he usually is, Lady B. You’ve already impressed him!
Lady B: (purses her lips) Miss Ashe, this is unusual.
I shrug.
Lady B: My lord, can you dance?
Iversly: At present I lack appropriate footwear, my lady.
Criccieth Castle, inspiration for haunted Gwynedd Castle in Captive Bride
Lady B: Dreadful. Then do go away and return when you’ve remedied that. This is a ballroom, my lord.
She leaves.
Me: Well, she took that pretty well, I think.
Iversly: Formidable wench.
Me: We think so too. But if you tell her that I’ll introduce you to a group of meddling kids and their dog Scooby-Doo, and you definitely don’t want that.
Iversly: I tremble.
Me: Sure you do. But Lady B does have a point. Those big ol’ medieval boots just ain’t meant for walkin- that is, for dancing. But before you rush off to get your ball shoes—
Iversly: I never hasten . . . anywhere. Not even to eternity.
Me: Oh, you poor thing! How can I make it better? Introduce you to a few lovely maidens, perhaps?
Iversly: Leave me in peace?
Me: I can’t. Not just yet at least. You see, in Captive Bride Bea and Peter ask you a few pointed questions about life in the other world. I’d like to open the floor now to our guests to interview you. What do you think?
Iversly: Given that you are my creator, your wish is my command, my dear.
Me: Wow, I don’t think any one of our heroes has ever responded to any one of us like that in this ballroom. Four centuries really do mellow lordly characters, don’t they?
So, lovely guests, Lord Iversly is now yours for the questioning! What would you like to ask that you’ve always wondered about ghosts or the afterlife, or are wondering about Bea and Peter’s romance in Captive Bride, or about haunted Gwynedd Castle, or anything else. One randomly chosen commenter will win a rare autographed PRINT copy of Captive Bride.
Captive Bride is available now for $1.99 as an e-book on most e-book platforms: Kindle, Nook, iPad/iBooks, Sony epub, and as a PDF to print from your computer. (It will be available soon directly from Kobo for $1.99 and in paperback for $11.99.)
Oct 22, 2012
1:59 am
Lord Iversly does time pass the same way where you are and do you feel the passage of time?
Oct 22, 2012
6:43 am
The passage of time is like the flow of tar in winter, my dear, and I feel it in my veins.
Oct 22, 2012
2:43 am
Lord Iversly sounds lovely, definitely the most charming ghost I have ever been introduced too.
My question for our ghostly lord would be; in your 400 years of ghostliness what is the best bit of gossip you’ve picked up?
Sounds like the perfect haloween romance read Katherine,I look forward to it. Is it available to download in the UK?
Oct 22, 2012
6:45 am
My thanks, dear lady.
Elvis is not, in fact, here.
Oct 22, 2012
6:49 am
Yes, LL, it most certainly is! Here’s the link for the Amazon.uk page:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Captive-Bride-Regency-Ghost-ebook/dp/B009QNQFWE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350902875&sr=8-1
Oct 22, 2012
1:04 pm
Oh just got to Bea’s first description of Iversly. I think I would marry him no arguments, corporeal form or none.
Oct 22, 2012
5:40 am
Lord Iversly, what are the most interesting events that have happened during your time as a ghost?
As a long-time lurker and wallflower, I’m always glad to follow the going-ons of the ballroom
Oct 22, 2012
6:46 am
Encountering this gathering of comely lasses must rank as one of the most interesting, my dear.
Oct 22, 2012
6:50 am
So nice of you to say hello to Rhys today, Sia. He’s usually something of a lurker as well, so I’m sure he’s especially happy you’re here.
Oct 22, 2012
7:07 am
I have a question for you that perhaps you could answer me about your fellow ghosts. Why would one of your brethren haunt some place other than where they met their doom? For instance, a library, given by one of the deceased families become a place where those people come to haunt, but they died in the ocean.
As for you, “If you had to do something different, would you? OR given the chance to change it, would you?” I have noticed in my own life that I would have still made the same decision in some of the big questions in my life.
Oct 22, 2012
12:12 pm
Trapped in this hellish half-existence as I am, my dear, with every desire to escape it, I cannot fathom why any specter would haunt any place unless he were forced. But death does not change a fool into a wise man, nor an imbecile into a sage. As he was in life, so does a man remain in death.
As I cannot alter the privileged arrogance of my youth, so I cannot alter the deeds that I committed then when I did not understand that many reside in this world far less privileged and free to act arrogantly than I. Alas, if I were to be offered a second chance at life, I would repeat each act of hubris again, and again be damned for them in eternity. Naturally, I hope otherwise for you, my dear.
Oct 22, 2012
7:17 am
Lord Iversly, what is the greatest invention you’ve seen since you’ve been a ghost?
Oct 22, 2012
12:15 pm
Regrettably, my dear, with the exception of this single day, I am confined to a remote castle in the Welsh wilderness and have seen precious little of modern inventiveness. I shall admit, however, that this “ballroom” is impressive.
Oct 22, 2012
9:40 am
So lovely to meet Lord Iversley, Katharine. I can’t believe you threatened him with Scooby Doo. I do trust it won’t be necessary to bring that gang into the ballroom!
Perhaps he can help me with a technical question regarding my work in progress. Under what circumstances would a ghost make clanking noises, like the shaking of chains? I’ve had a lot of trouble researching this since very few ghosts seem to have written how-to books. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to consult a real expert.
Oct 22, 2012
12:18 pm
My thanks, my dear.
A man who clanks chains wishes to attract attention. Your chain-clanking ghost performs for spectators like a trained dog. I recommend offering him biscuits and you will hear all the clanking you desire.
Oct 22, 2012
6:29 pm
I like the idea of chain shaking, Miranda! Iversly is a stick-in-the-mud. I hope you find a better reply than his!
Oct 22, 2012
10:27 am
Lord Iversley, thank you so much for joining us in the Ballroom today! I can’t wait to read about all the trouble you caused Peter and Bea.
My question for you? What is your opinion of the changes in ladies’ fashions throughout the centuries? Do you prefer medieval fashions for ladies, or do you find Regency, or “modern day” dress more appealing?
Oct 22, 2012
12:20 pm
Ladies of my era, my dear, had no need to strap themselves in whalebone. The female figure is Nature sublime and needs no such false enhancements. Gentlemen of your era must be fools to recommend them, for I cannot understand why ladies would garb themselves so unless seeking to attract masculine attention.
Oct 22, 2012
6:30 pm
Lisa, in the book, he actually steals Bea’s undergarments. He’s definitely not a big fan of “modern” ladies’ garb.
Oct 22, 2012
11:50 am
I love gothic/regency ghost stories! (and prefer print copies to e-books).
My question is:
What do you think ghosts are – friendly visitors who unfinished business, or those destined to “haunt” others for eternity? With either, when can they finally find peace?
Oct 22, 2012
12:23 pm
I have yet to encounter a “friendly” specter, my dear. But I can only speak from my experience. A curse binds me to this earth or else I should be happy to be quit of warm, breathing human company forever.
Oct 22, 2012
11:52 am
Ooh, a ghostly visitor! Lord Iversly, what would be the best way to communicate with a ghost, should one wish to? Planchette? Seance?
Oct 22, 2012
12:27 pm
Those of us on this plane, my dear, that respond to such manipulative trickeries of the living are merely weak-willed. My recommendation, should you wish to communicate with a ghost, is to ignore him altogether. We are an arrogant lot and cannot for long resist such temptation. In other words, we are typical men.
Oct 22, 2012
11:55 am
Greetings Lord Iversley, I hope you’re enjoying your visit to the Ballroom. I’m looking forward to reading this tale of yours, however, I do have a bit of a problem believing you to be a villian. You’re so charming and amenable. Then again we are meeting you in your spirit life.
Were you so charming and amenable in your pre-spirit life?
Katharine, I love a good haunting. I keep watching for CAPTIVE BRIDE on Kobo but nothing yet. Glad to hear it’s getting there soon. Of course, I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to winning a signed print copy either. It would be very happy on my bookshelf – just got a new one. Thanks for the fun post and giveaway. ; )
Oct 22, 2012
12:28 pm
Charming and amenable are women’s words.
Oct 22, 2012
1:13 pm
Lord Iversly, would you rather I name you as taciturn and incorrigible? Is that how you were known in your early years?
I still think you’re charming. *wink*
Oct 22, 2012
6:23 pm
Taciturn I accept, my dear, but incorrigible shall be reserved for you alone.
Oct 23, 2012
1:12 am
*blushing*
Oct 22, 2012
12:30 pm
Oh oh, Amy! I think he’s a little put out with you for complimenting him.
Oct 22, 2012
1:15 pm
LOL! Katharine, do you suppose he’ll come haunt me now? Not that I’d mind as long as he plays well with the other ghosts. ; )
Oct 22, 2012
6:31 pm
O-other g-ghosts??? :}
Oct 23, 2012
1:14 am
Oh yes, they do seem to come around me – even animal ghosts. Lord Iversly isn’t allergic to ghost cats, is he? LOL!
Oct 22, 2012
1:05 pm
Welcome, Lord Iversley. I would like to ask you if, as a spirit, you ever feel any emotions.
Oct 22, 2012
6:24 pm
I never felt them as a living human, my dear. Why should I feel them now?
Oct 22, 2012
8:10 pm
Carol, don’t listen to him. I know for a fact he feels emotions. Loads of them! He’s just being especially male today, I think.
Oct 22, 2012
1:06 pm
This is such a lovely tory. I so enjoyed reading it serial style last October. IT’s great to see that it is going to be more widely available.
Oct 22, 2012
8:10 pm
Erin, I’m so happy you enjoyed it then! Thank you.
Oct 22, 2012
2:43 pm
This story sounds so wonderful! But what else did I expect from La Belle Dame Katharine?
Lord Iversley, have you ever seen an angel or a devil running around over there on your side of the great veil?
Such an honor to meet you, sir.
Gaelen, already a fan
Oct 22, 2012
6:25 pm
My dear, I have seen the wicked and the sublime, the powerful and the meek, the tortured and the triumphant. Angels and devils? But of course.
Oct 22, 2012
3:46 pm
I understand why people would remin as ghosts but what about animals? There are cases of ghostly dogs although they seem to ignore the living. Why would animals stick around as ghosts?
Oct 22, 2012
6:27 pm
In my era a greyhound haunted a sacred well and did miracles, or so the peasants insisted. But as I cannot fathom the foolish depths of the human mind and will, I shall not even attempt to understand lesser beasts.
Oct 22, 2012
7:01 pm
Lord Iversly, thank you for gracing us with your… presence. Or something… You say that Elvis is not in fact in residence on the ghostly plain, so who is your favorite deceased compatriot?
Oct 22, 2012
8:14 pm
Regrettably, my dear, my incarceration in my castle has left me without companionship other than the living and occasionally otherworldly creatures that it would not be kind of me to speak of in this charming company. Ghosts I only hear of from these, and infrequently. I fear it is a sorry, solitary existence, but alas it is mine.
Oct 22, 2012
8:17 pm
He’s playing this up, Catie, to get sympathy. Don’t listen to a word he says.
Oct 22, 2012
7:40 pm
So, Lord Iversly, can you change into dancing shoes or do you have to make do with whatever it is you’re wearing on your feet – should you wish to dance that is.
Oct 22, 2012
8:16 pm
I am able to change my garments when I wish. That said, I have not possessed a pair of shoes suitable for dancing since the year before my life’s thread was cut. I was a warrior and had no need of dancing for too long. When finally I wished to dance again, it was unfortunately too late.
Oct 22, 2012
8:17 pm
Rhys, you’re breaking my heart! I know your back story and I know– oh, oh– I think I’m going to cry…
Oct 22, 2012
8:18 pm
Foolish, sentimental female.
Oct 22, 2012
9:30 pm
Oh Lord Iversley, it is so delightful to meet you. The question I would as is a bit personal so I hope you will forgive me, but… do you have any ghostly lady friends? Anyone in the afterlife that has piqued your interest as much as those in the flesh?
Oct 22, 2012
10:20 pm
That sounds like a great book! : )
Do you have any other ghost friends?
Oct 23, 2012
12:08 am
All I want to know is…can Monty see him? I mean, I know Monty has protested his experience, but I just would like some proof. You know? I mean does it really have to be a maiden as in female???
Oct 23, 2012
1:15 am
Wonderful deduction, Sabrina!
So Monty, can you see Lord Iversly? ; )
Oct 23, 2012
1:19 am
Lord Iversly, what do you do when you get bored or restless? 400 years is an awfully long time. Do you perhaps read the stories penned by our illustrious lady novelists? I promise I won’t tell!