Welcome to the world of Regency romance as we continue the story of a Regency Rake in the Rake’s Progress written by Miss Louisa Ayling. 

In September 1810, Horatia finds herself in a new city. Her mother had decided that the Bath season would be ideal for her daughter to taste a different environment to meet a new group of people., to allow her to submerge herself in some new company.

Will Horatia make new friends and be in the company of some different gentlemen?

So, shall we discover whether Horatia is missing having Matthias in her life?

The season in 1810 pulls both Matthias and Horatia in different directions. Chapter 9 sees one of them traveling into Europe. 

Does this change everything for them both? 

Expectations and dreams are put aside and the reality of life takes priority, will this take them both into a disastrous future?

Is this the end of their regular Waltz for Matthias and Horatia?

Is life pushing them further apart? 

Let us discover the next steps in their separate lives.

Welcome back to the world of Regency romance and continue the story of a Regency Rake by Miss Louisa Ayling.

Everyone have returned to London for the 1810 season, together with new of debutantes. Both Matthias and Horatia are really not looking forward to it for different reasons, with familial pressures playing a part; but they are both are bored of the Ton’s entertainments and expectations.

So, what are they going to do to entertain themselves?

Will it bring them in the same society or will they drift away from each other's company by following different paths, pushing them further apart or will fate push them together? 

Let's find out in Chapter 8.

Welcome back to the world of Regency romance and continue the story of a Regency Rake by Miss Louisa Ayling.

Now the summer season of 1809 has become a faint memory, both Matthias and Horatia are looking forward to the festive season and a New Year of 1810, in their respective homes. With a new season looming, this is where we find them both in Chapter 7.

So, what do their futures hold? Will they move further apart or will fate push them together? Is the boredom for them both pushing them into decisions they would not usually make.

Welcome to the world of Regency romance and continue the story of a Regency Rake by Miss Louisa Ayling.

Let's now move onto Chapter 6, where we find Matthias and Horatia in each other's company for a short while, with Horatia’s family starting to suspect that there is affection between them, and Lady Stanwycke is hopeful for a wedding in the very near future.

Welcome to the world of Regency romance and continue the story of a Regency Rake by Miss Louisa Ayling.

Let's now move onto Chapter 5, with the families either travelling or already arrived at their country estate, with Matthias and Horatia finding themselves in each other's company, so how will they cope?

Welcome to the world of Regency romance to continue the story of a Regency Rake by Miss Louisa Ayling.

In the next Chapter, the season has ended, this often means that a seaside holiday or a return to the country estate is in order, and that seems to be what's in store for Matthias and Horatia.

Welcome to the world of Regency romance.

Miss Louisa Ayling here again, and ready to continue to share the story of a Regency Rake …..

Let us continue to the next Chapter to just see how Matthias is handling his lust as the season starts to come to an end, but how is Horatia coping with her first season?

Welcome to the world of Regency romance.

I am Miss Louisa Ayling, and here to share the story of a Regency Rake …..

Let us continue now with Chapter 2, to see how things are progressing in the season for Matthias and Horatia.

I’m Miss Louisa Ayling, and I'm here to continue to share the story of a Regency Rake …..

The Rake's Progress

So, let us join our Regency characters in the first Chapter, after the Chesterton Soiree. 

Chapter 1 ………

April, 1809 - The next morning ………

…

I’m Miss Louisa Ayling, and I'm here to take you into a world of the glorious Regency ballrooms filled with silks and satins and those handsome gentlemen in their immaculate dark tailcoats and silk buttoned pantaloons, swirling in a Waltz.

The story that I'm sharing with you is:

The Rake's Progress.

Yes, the Regency Rake is always a fascinating character, although there are still many in this modern world, but with the restrictions and etiquette of the Regency society, women would try to avoid a rake, especially if they were a young lady who has just ‘come-out’, a debutante in their first season. This rake is no different to any other and his name is Lord Matthias Templeton, the 5th Earl of Bembridge, he has gained the of the designation of 'Temple of Love', and is reputed to be the most magnificent lover in London. He is tall, virile and darkly enigmatic, so can have his pick of women who flock around for undivided attention, but he becomes easily bored and is often found searching for his latest paramour.

He has three main rules when it comes to women, avoid the innocent (untouched virgins are not for him), avoid married woman whose husbands would not want him poaching on their territories (duels are a no-no, when he can have another woman instead, not worth the risk), and thirdly those old spinster 'left on the shelf' (well, there must be a reason they are still unmarried).

Life has been interesting then the excitement stops, boredom sets in and nothing excites him anymore, and it is all down to one young lady, who he danced with in her first season. Horatia dancing into his life but he is not ready to marry, but cannot seduce her as she is a virtuous, so he spends the rest of his life in debauchery and many affairs.  She has ruined him and his enjoyments, but he hopes to find happiness and fulfilment again one day.

So, let us commence with the prologue to give you a flavour of those who’s story we are going to share.