Written on the flyleaf of the first volume, apparently at a later date…
Apologia for my temerity in writing this memoir. I shall not say how, and why, at the age of 15 I became the mistress of the Earl of Craven, because I never had the kind of opportunities that Harriette Wilson wast’d.
However, I enjoy’d the patronage of a number of generous suitors, and in particular, at the age of 27 I fell in with a wealthy Northern ironmaster, whose sound financial advice even more than his generosity ensur’d me the means for comfortable living without the need for writing scandal-monging memoirs, indeed enabling me to support a number of charitable enterprises.
This narrative sets out to encourage a rational and prudent approach to the profession of harlotry and to dispel the notion that a fallen woman is bound to die in the gutter, pennyless and poxt, afore her 30th year.
Published: August 2018
Clorinda has successfully brought about a better state of affairs in the household of Lord D-. However, there are still problems in her circle; in particular, there seems something not quite right in the Earl of N-’s establishment…
Published: July 2018
Shaken by her encounter with the escaped lunatic marquess, Clorinda nonetheless continues upon her social round of visits and house-parties. There are new friends with new troubles, leading to new contrivances…
Published: June 2018
Clorinda’s domestic upheavals have finally been resolved with the marriage of Hector and Euphemia. The political coterie of her friends and associates continues to expand, dogged by fears of covert endeavours to discover them to be involved in seditious activities. Clorinda is becoming increasingly widely received in Society, as are the F-s. Earlier events continue to have repercussions and further consequences.
Published: May 2018
Clorinda continues becoming ever closer to the F-s and their family. Their political coterie is growing in esteem and gaining further allies. But there are consequences still impending from contrivances she formerly wrought, as well as problems closer to home…
Published: April 2018
Clorinda is becoming increasingly accepted in Society. The F-s are also getting on and it is proposed that Josiah F- should stand as an MP. As a result of Clorinda’s contrivances, the F-s will come to reside with their family in the east wing of R- House, enabling Eliza F- to sort out the ongoing domestic problems in Lord R-’s establishment. However, a device is still needed to prevent any speculations upon the relationship between Lord R- and Mr MacD-…
Published: March 2018
Following her very brief marriage to Lord R-‘s friend the Marquess of B-, Clorinda is now the Dowager Marchioness of B-. While constrained by the formalities of mourning, she is becoming accepted in Society through her own ventures into philanthropy and the patronage of Lady J-. She remains the beloved third of Mr and Mrs F-. She takes up her pen again during a trip to her late husband’s villa near Naples in company with Lord R- and Mr MacD‑.
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