The Shamrock and the Rose 

by: Regan Walker

Genre:  Regency Short Story (appx. 14k words)

ISBN:  978-1-938876-41-7

Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group

Publication date: 2/2/2013

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4 columns - recommended read

Blurb

Set in London in 1818, it's the story of Rose Collingwood, daughter of a baron, who wanted to play Portia in The Merchant of Venice. To accept the part at the Theatre-Royal at Haymarket, the very proper young lady assumes the disguise of Miss Lily Underwood, the actress. Who knew all of London would soon be at her feet sending her love notes? One such Valentine goes awry only to be found by the dashing Irish barrister, Morgan O'Connell. Though he would have seduced the actress, Morgan must court the lady. Given three choices much like Portia's suitors, can she resist the handsome Irish rogue?     

Review

Danu, Mother of the Gods of Writing and Defender of the Truths of the Craft of Writing, bids  me, her lowly servant, to say unto thee, her humble and gifted petitioner. that she regrets of the length of time she has forced thee to wait upon her judgment.  My Lady, the Goddess Danu, is much puzzled by this world she finds herself in after her long retreat from the affairs and business of writing upon this plane.  Whilst exploring the legions of man-candy on her favorite beach she found herself accused of stalking and objectification – an accusation she is still utterly unable to fathom.

To her further befuddlement, when she attempted to explain just who she is to those who had presumed to man-handle her, she found herself forced to reside in what she was told was the Goddess suite at the local looney bin.  She feels, given the lack of both amenities and servants, this is a misnomer and she is taking all available steps to correct their error.

Escape was somewhat problematic but I am happy to report, My Lady Danu persevered, as indeed thy own characters must to reach their desired goals.   Thus, having survived the harrowing ordeal, the Goddess Danu had the leisure to read thy opus both carefully and repeatedly.  My Lady Danu admits freely she has not concerned herself with the affairs of writing on this plain in many centuries, being busy with the deplorable compositions of her offspring.  Still, in that time, she has availed herself of some of the masters of the Regency Romance Genre (Georgette Heyer and Barbara Cartland), so she is not totally without experience.

She found much to like in Morgan O’Connell and was not ill-pleased with Rose Collinwood.  Given the constraints of a short story she understands thy need to condense many things and to force elements of the plot to serve several goals, not the least of which are the character arc and the external plot around which the romance is woven.  

Morgan sets out to seduce the actress who has penetrated his ennui and, through what reminds My Lady much of the machinations of Cupid when he escapes the influence of Psyche, is led instead to the woman who shelters behind her stage name as she pursues a path not open to a gently bred female in Regency England – or anywhere else for that matter, much to My Lady’s dismay.

In a series of scenes and well-handled exposition Morgan’s view of Rose changes and she herself is brought to point of seeing marriage not as a trap or sentence to a witless life, but rather a different sort of stage where her wits will aid Morgan and indeed all of his kin (and the Lady Danu’s as she reminds me) in the cause of the Catholic Emancipation of Ireland.

It is here, to Danu’s delight, Ms. Walker shines as bright as any light found among the Tuatha Dé Danann.  Taking a piece of history and spinning it like Rapunzel into gold, she built her story around truth.  The end of this story is never in question and as she began to read the Goddess Danu found that troubling.  But a closer reading of the story, from Rose’s changing attitude toward marriage and Morgan’s growing willingness to not let Rose’s 'Englishness' deter him from following his heart, made clear it really is about the road taken and not the destination when it comes to the Romance Genre.  There will be a happily ever after.  The delight and enjoyment is not in that but rather in seeing characters grow and persevere to attain that end state.

And so, despite her questioning the purpose of the last scene - a view into the intimacies of the couple’s wedding night – she enjoyed this story and is happy to award the 4 columns - a recommended read.