Gambling in the Regency- Alanna Lucas

I have just returned from a 10 day camping trip and as Christmas roars up at me at the speed of light (got to get the camping gear away before the tree can go up!), this will be my last Friday guest poster for the year and what a lovely, seasonal finish to a year of fabulous guests and interesting facts.

Here in Australia a Christmas of snow and mistletoe seems very far removed from a baking northerly wind and what is more evocative than the thought of Regency England... under a covering of snow. So thank you to Alanna Lucas for bringing me that thought... 

Traveller, rev head and dark chocolate lover, Alanna Lucas grew up in Southern California. From an early age, she took an interest in travel, incorporating those experiences into her writing. When she is not daydreaming of her next travel destination, Alanna can be found researching, spending time with family, or going for long walks. She is the author of four historical novels (3 regency romances and a Montana set historical romance). To find out more about Alanna visit her website:  www.alannalucas.com . You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads. 

Alanna takes a look at gambling in the Georgian/Regency times... 

GAMBLING - A FUN PASTIME OR SERIOUS VICE?

Gambling at Whites

Gambling is one of the earliest forms of entertainment dating back thousands of years to the ancient civilizations. Throughout history, gambling has been seen not only as entertainment, but also as a way to improve one’s lot in life. This philosophy had not changed during the Georgian period.

During the eighteenth century in England, gambling was one of the most sought-after forms of entertainment. In one evening fortunes were lost and won over Faro, Hazard, and various wagers, just to name a few vices.

In the betting books, the standard entries ranged from wagering on horses to wrestling, and everything in between. Men- and women- would bet on the mundane and unpredictable. Anything and everything became the subject of bets from whose father would die first, to the outcome of a race between turkeys and geese.

These bets were not for some paltry sum either. They could range upward of thousands of pounds. Lord Arlington’s wager was one such extravagant gamble. Two raindrops, a windowpane, and 3,000 pounds were the accouterments of the wager.

One evening while at White’s, Lord Arlington bet 3,000 pounds on which two designated raindrops would reach the bottom of the bow windowpane first. Needless to say, Lord Arlington’s purse was a little lighter after that bet.

Despite those who gambled before them and lost, the lure of the possibility of winning was just too great for some. So, whether watching raindrops, jumping out of a window, or tracking some geese, one thing was for certain, no bet was too large, no task too small.

MISTLETOE WALTZ

Trust, patience and mistletoe must overcome a forced marriage, dark secrets, and a looming shadow that threatens all chance of Faith finding love with the Marquess of Hawthorne. 

A HOLIDAY WISH 
Marcus, the Marquess of Hawthorne, vowed never to fall in love. He should have vowed never to marry. Caught in a compromising situation, he’s been forced to wed the young woman he was trying to rescue. Beautiful? Yes. But his new bride’s apprehensions seem worse than his own, and as family and friends arrive at Deer Park to celebrate Christmastide, all he wants is for Faith to play the part of a happy wife and hostess. 

She will not, however—or cannot. And when she commits yet another desperate act, this time with disastrous results, Marcus must save Faith once again. Now he must discover what drives her, what dark secrets keep her unable to trust or love, and what she truly desires. Only then will they, with the magic of mistletoe, overcome the pasts and taste the delights of the season.

BUY MISTLETOE WALTZ