Meet Charity Baxendale from The Seduction of Lady Charity – The Baxendale Sisters by Maggi Andersen.

Maggi Andersen and her husband, a retired lawyer live in a quaint old town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. Maggi gained a BA in English and an MA in Creative Writing before beginning her writing career. She has been nominated for the BTS Red Carpet Awards, the RONE Award 3 times and was a finalist in the Emerald Pro Award.

When not creating stories, Maggi reads, goes on long walks, enjoys her garden, the theatre and movies. She supports the local wildlife, the IFAW and the RSPCA. Her kookaburras (Australian Kingfishers) prefer to be hand fed.

Maggi has published over 25 novels and novellas of different genres from historical romances, mysteries, romantic suspense, and young adult novels (out of print).

Title The Seduction of Lady Charity – The Baxendale Sisters Book Four

Genre Regency Romance

Book heat level (based on movie ratings G, PG, PG13, R): PG13

As a young woman must marry and become engaged in proper duties, art can only be an accomplishment and a recreation.
Despite opposition at every turn, Charity Baxendale dreams of becoming a renowned portrait painter. She is heartened to receive two significant commissions from esteemed family members, and when a rakish Scottish baron commissions her to do his portrait, she dares hope she is one step closer.
When Robin, Lord Stanberry, with whom Charity has had a long friendship, asks her to marry him, she must choose between marriage and her career. Robin is heir to a dukedom, and Charity fears that not only would she be unsuited to life as a duchess, but also that her burgeoning career might end before it begins. And besides, Robin has made no mention of love.
After his uncle and heir die, Robin becomes the Duke of Harwood. Never having expected such an event, he feels himself unfitted for such a position. He was perfectly content living as a viscount in Tunbridge Wells, writing a manuscript on ornithology. Now he must leave all that he loves. He’d hoped to have Charity at his side by the time he took his place at Harwood Castle, for her pragmatic nature and strength of character would be of enormous help to him. Should he have thrown himself at her feet and declared an undying love?
“Ms. Andersen has created a wonderfully intriguing cast of characters. THE SEDUCTION OF LADY CHARITY can stand alone but readers might find themselves returning to the first book of the series just to see what they might have missed from Ms. Andersen’s original stories.” InD’Tale Review

Introducing Charity Baxendale

Welcome to Romance Lives Forever! We’re happy to have you here today.

Name: Charity Baxendale

Age: 18

Gender: Female

Birthplace: Tunbridge Wells, England

Profession: Artist

Describe your body and build, skin tone, height and weight. Include any unique features such as dimples, freckles, or scars.

Dark blonde hair–the Baxendale’s beautiful violet eyes and pale blonde hair, which has graced my sisters, bypassed me. My eyes are blue-grey, and I’m what they call a long Meg, tall for a girl and slim to the point of willowy.

Who is the significant other in your life?

I am an artist. I don’t wish to marry for years, although I my parents think differently. I know full well that as soon as I marry, my husband will take control of my life, and my career, which I am very passionate about, will end before it began.

I do rely on Lord Robin Stanberry, I must admit, more than I should, for company. He is the one person who truly understands me as we share an interest in art and ornithology. And I did rather hope that we might marry one day, and spend our lives quietly in Tunbridge Wells. But that was before Robin became heir to a dukedom. I could never be his duchess. The demands of such a life and the responsibilities would be enormous! I’d be expected to become an ape leader. It would put an end to my aspirations.

Please tell us a little about yourself.

My life revolves around my family and our home in Tunbridge Wells. But now that four sisters, Honor, Faith and Hope have married wonderful men, I don’t see as much of them as I would wish. My youngest sister is still at home. Mercy is almost seventeen. She’s beautiful and has a charming, lively nature, I just know that her Season will be great success and she will find a man to marry. And that will make my parent’s happy, as I’ve flatly refused to have one. I shall become the unmarried Baxendale sister, which I’m not entirely happy about. Mama says it will be nice to have a daughter at home to keep them company in their declining years. But I know she doesn’t mean it. She wishes me to marry as much as my father does, even to the point where they would consider a Scotsman.

How do you dress?

I like pretty gowns as much as any girl, but I tend to wear an old cambric gown at home. Despite an apron, I always manage to get a dab of oil paint on my clothes. Mother is forever tsking at me.

If we could only hear your voice (but not see you) what characteristic would identify you?

Robin likes my voice when we sing together. But I’m not the most musically gifted in the family. That’s Hope.

Please tell us about your education.

Our governess taught us those things a young lady must know: Grammar, drawing and music, fluency in the French and Italian languages, geography, household management and how to stitch a fine seam. We all read widely. Mercy is literary one. She is writing a book.

Are you book-smart, self-taught, widely-experienced?

Reading books on art has expanded my knowledge of art history and history generally. Regrettably, there are very few, apart from Robin, who express an interest in the subject.

Do you get by, live comfortably, live extravagantly?

Father is an earl. I am fortunate to live comfortably in his manor house. We have excellent servants, some who have been with us for years and are now part of the family.

What is your viewpoint on wealth?

Money is of little interest to me beyond earning a competence from my portraits.

On what special skills do you rely?

I am always working to improve my painting skills, and have taken lessons.

Are any of your skills a source of pride or embarrassment, and if so, which ones and why?

I’m proud of most of the landscape paintings that hang in our house, but some of the earlier works are not quite as good. But Mama refuses to take them down.

What kinds of things do you always carry (in pockets or purse)?

A handkerchief, a small bottle of Mercy’s homemade toilet-water, a comb, plus a pencil and small notebook for capturing anything that takes my eye.

What is your family like?

My sisters are wonderful, spirited women. Two have married into the neighboring family. The Brandreth’s estate borders the Baxendale’s. Brandreth Park is the largest estate in Tunbridge Wells. We often dine there with Chaloner, Marquess of Brandreth and his wife, Lavinia. 

The Baxendale family is growing ever larger. Honor and Edward have a son, and Faith and Vaughn are expecting a baby soon.  

Are you close to family?

The Baxendale’s and their extended family are very close knit. Should we be needed, we will travel miles, on bad roads and in atrocious weather if need be, to help each other.

Do you have children?

No. But I do want them one day.

Are you involved in your community?

I help my mother with church fetes, we have morning calls with the neighbors, and attend balls and dances held in Tunbridge Wells.

How well do you know your neighbors?

We are well acquainted with the people in the village, although in these modern times, families seem to move more often than they once did.

Do you see morality as black-and-white, or with shades of gray?

I consider myself moral, but artists most likely view things a little differently. To paint a man in the nude, for instance, would not worry me at all. I have considered asking Robin, but I cannot now he’s to be a duke.

How do others perceive you based upon looks, and is this assumption accurate?

I’ve been told I’m attractive. But I don’t consider myself pretty, I’m too tall. I don’t tend to give a lot of thought to my appearance.

Do you care about what others assume about you?

Yes, especially if men respect me less for wanting a career. It is very difficult.

Can you keep a secret? Why or why not?

I am very good at keeping secrets. I shouldn’t like myself or any of my loved ones to end up in the scandal sheets.

What secrets do you know about people around you that you do NOT share?

That would be telling. J

What inner doubt causes you the most difficulty?

That my life choice in life might cause my parent’s distress.

What past event causes you the most fear?

My sister, Faith was once kidnapped. I’d hate anything to happen like that again.

What is your biggest need?

Right now, it is to gain a foothold as an artist. A very difficult thing for a woman to achieve.

What are your biggest hopes and dreams?

To paint famous and interesting people’s portraits. And to one day marry and have children.

What would help you face hardship and meet any challenge?

Support and respect from others. Some men are not always so eager to see a woman rise in any vocation. They believe a woman’s place is in the home.

If you could make any one thing happen, what would it be?

Right now my concern is for Faith. We all want her to have an easy delivery and a healthy baby.

What is your biggest personal flaw?

One might say my independence. I admit I can be stubborn.

When there is a setback, what doubt or flaw surfaces?

Self-doubt often plagues those who are creative. I have to grapple with it sometimes.

How do you handle challenges?

I get nervous, but I don’t buckle.

What is your breaking point?

Should anything serious happen to a member of my family.

How do you express disappointment?

I retreat into my painting, but I also seek my older sisters’ advice. They are much wiser than I, and share their experiences of life, sometimes with a good deal of laughter. I feel well prepared for the honeymoon, when I finally decide to marry. 

How emotionally expressive are you to others?

I’m affectionate with family members and those close friends I can relax with.

When (if) you lie or are upset, what gives you away?

I try not to lie. I am very bad at it. I’ve been told by my sisters that I squint.

Who in your life has the power to hurt you the most and why?

Those in society who mock my endeavors. I dislike being looked down upon because I paint. Loved ones, if I feel I’ve let them down. Robin too, I shouldn’t like him to think badly of me.

What would you like to tell your writer?

Thank you for my happy ending.

What would you like people who hear your story to know?

That your dreams can come true. Just as long as you persevere.

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