Shaking Up A Story

In a romance novel, the sparks often fly between the hero and heroine from the very first page. It’s important to realise, however, that men and women are different when it comes to romantic relationships. Women can go on a few dates, realise they like a man, start feeling deep emotions, and believe they’re in a relationship. A man can go on a few dates with a woman, think, “She’s hot! I like spending time with her.” And that’s it! He likes the woman, but his emotions are not involved yet.

I’d say that a man becomes emotionally invested in a relationship when he has had to pursue a woman, so it’s important as a romance writer to set the pursuit in motion from the beginning and not to let it falter. There’s nothing duller than a relationship that falters halfway through the book, where the spark dampens and nothing appears to be happening between the two main protagonists. Often at this point, it is important to inject something new into the plot so that the romance doesn’t become flat and dull.

In Lord Fenmore’s Wager, my second book, I shook up the story halfway through by changing locations, and introducing another male character who was competing for Diana’s attention. Lord Fenmore only realises his feelings for Diana once she’s disappeared from his life, and sometimes creating distance between characters, by having them move apart, is exactly what is necessary to revive a flagging story.

Often the best romances involve an elusive heroine who is not particularly focused on the hero. This intrigues him, particularly if he is used to being pursued by women. Once he invests time and effort into the relationship, he starts to fall in love with her. And then that is when we achieve the happy ending we’ve all been hoping for.

Here is an extract from Lord Fenmore’s Wager, which illustrates how I shook up the story halfway through:

“They decided to partake of a late nuncheon at the Swan, before returning to Bath, and after they had completed the meal, and were making preparations to leave the Swan, Diana congratulated herself on having successfully avoided spending too much time in Lord Fenmore’s disturbing company.
She congratulated herself too soon however. The Earl, deciding that more forceful tactics were needed if he were ever to have the opportunity of speaking to his elusive love, managed to corner her as they made their way to their carriages in the courtyard of the inn, and said tersely, “I have something of a particular nature that I wish to discuss with you, Miss Hamilton.”
Taking her arm in a firm grip, he ignored her startled look of enquiry, and helped her up into his curricle. Annoyed at this high-handed behaviour, Diana turned her head away from the Earl when he sat down beside her, and stared determinedly at the passing scenery as they left the town behind. Silence reigned for the first five minutes of the journey, while the Earl tried to regain control of his temper.
Finally, he said, “Why have you been ignoring me, Miss Hamilton? I have tried to speak to you on numerous occasions since I arrived in Bath, but with limited success.”
“I have not been ignoring you, my lord,” Diana said coolly. “I would not be so ill-mannered as to do that.”
“No — you have been treating me, instead, with polite disdain. I thought that in the light of our previous association that you regarded me at least — as a friend.”
“Our past association is something that I would prefer not to be reminded of, my lord. My time as a governess is not something that I recall with a great deal of pleasure. And you were my employer — not my friend.”
“I considered you my friend.”
“Did you indeed? And was it friendship that motivated you to make me a part of that wager with my brother?”
“It was a concern that you might fall into the hands of Marcus Bateman. Your brother was not in a fit state to consider what fate would befall you if he had lost to Bateman, but I was perfectly aware of the danger of the situation. The fact that winning you proved to be beneficial to my family was merely a fortunate result of my decision.”
“Your altruism overwhelms me, my lord.”
The Earl shot her a narrowed glance. “Sarcasm does not become you, Miss Hamilton.”
Diana flushed and looked away, angry with herself for having allowed her tongue to run away with her in this manner. It would not do at all for her to make any more sniping remarks to the Earl as they revealed far too much about the turbulent state of her emotions! It would be best to avoid such personal discussions completely in future, she decided resolutely.
So, staring in front of her, she refrained from replying, hoping that the Earl would realise that she had no wish to speak to him further on this subject — or any other subject, for that matter.
The Earl, however, had no intention of taking the hint, and said, “About your relationship with Sir Max, Miss Hamilton…”
“I do not believe that that is any concern of yours, my lord! I do not question you about the marked preference you have been showing for Charlotte’s company since you arrived in Bath.”
“Charlotte’s company?” the Earl repeated, dropping his hands in surprise. The greys drawing the curricle sprang forward, and the Earl turned his attention to bringing them back to a more sedate pace, before looking at Diana again. “You believe that I am courting Miss Osborne?” he said incredulously. “Good Lord!”
Diana drew herself up, and forgetting the resolution she had so recently made, said in a quelling voice, “Is that all you have to say, my lord? Does it please you to trifle with the feelings of a romantically minded young girl, like this, with no thought to marriage? It is not well done of you! In fact, I had thought better of you.”
“Had you, indeed?” the Earl said, looking down at her with a curious light in his blue eyes. “Well let me inform you, my dear Miss Hamilton, that you are fair and far off the mark! Charlotte is in no more danger of falling in love with me than I am with her.”
“I am persuaded that you are wrong, Lord Fenmore. Charlotte is…”
“A most determined flirt — and far more up to snuff than you are, obviously. I’m not the man she wants.”
“Up to snuff? Charlotte? She’s the veriest innocent. And you — you’re an experienced man of the world who should know better than to trifle with her!”
“Jealous, Miss Hamilton?”
“Not in the least,” Diana said frigidly. “I am merely concerned for my friend.”
“Hmmm,” the Earl said, looking down at her again.
Disliking the intent expression in the Earl’s eyes, Diana said hurriedly, “Besides, there is no need for me to be jealous when I have a perfectly good suitor of my own!”
“Sir Max,” the Earl stated flatly.
Diana gave a defiant nod of her head. “Precisely.” “

Read The Dashing Debutante, Lord Fenmore’s Wager and Send and Receive