I’m currently editing one of the two historical Regencies that I have finished. The working title of the novel is called The Lady Charmer, but since this book is so much more than a smooth talking hero, I’m leaning towards retitling it Turbulent Beginnings as this title offers more insight into the plot. This novel is book three of the Bewildering Love series.
In this story, American heroine, Kate Bancroft garners her courage to escape the physical abuse of her stepfather and stows away on a ship bound for England. Unfortunately, murderous villains pillage the ship she’s on and Kate finds herself lost at sea with the Marquees of Geary, Cole Stanton and his manservant, Harrision. Eventually, the ship comes upon the shores of Watlings Island, now called San Salvador Island, which is located in the district of the Bahamas.
It is believed that Christopher Columbus visited this island during his first expedition to the New World in October of 1492. Columbus declared the land to be the property of the King and Queen of Spain and named the island San Salvador or “Holy Savior.” The native Lucayan Indians who lived on the island called it Guanahani, which means “sweet and gentle.” The name was changed after the Spanish colonization. In the 17thcentury, the island was settled by the English buccaneer, John or George Watling, who gave the island his name. The United Kingdom gained control of the Bahamas in the early 18thcentury. The island was called Watlings Island from 1680 until 1925 when it was renamed San Salvador. San Salvador Island has many interior lakes and is 13 miles long and 5 miles wide. The population as of 2010 was 940 people.
Watling was known as a more pious pirate as he would not plunder or play cards on the Sabbath. He did nevertheless lose his head when fleeing the Spanish in Arica, a port city in Peru, and his head was placed on a pike to warn others against piracy. Watling’s headquarters were believed to have been located on San Salvador Island and it’s rumored that his treasures are buried at Fortune Hill. The ruin of the pirate’s residence at Sandy Point is called Watling Castle. This is an abandoned 18thcentury Loyalist plantation house located on a hill in the southeast section of the island. The castle stood three stories high and held a lookout tower over French Bay. The plantation had a kitchen, barns, slave quarters, and boundary walls.
In my novel, Cole offers the tobacco in the ship’s cargo hold to a Watling descendent in exchange for repairs to their ship. Once on land, Cole must find a crew amongst the island’s local population for the journey back to England. But most importantly he needs to keep Kate safe. The latter proves difficult as Kate doesn’t take orders well and resents anyone who tries to take away her newfound freedom. Once in England, Kate strives to make it on her own and their love story continues to be filled with obstacles. People from Kate’s past set forth a series of lies and deceit, resulting in her abduction. Lies unfold to reveal truth as Kate comes face to face with her supposedly deceased biological father.
A special thank you to: http://www.answers.com/Q/Buccaneer_george_watling_took_over_this_island_and_renamed_it_after_himself, http://www.johnwatlings.com/history/john-watling/, http://www.gobiggety.com/san-salvador-5-historical-landmarks-you-must-see/ Painting by artist John Stevens Dews (Columbus arriving at Watlings Island)
