Character Interview: Lady Vesta from "The Virgin Huntress" (by Victoria Vane)

*Victoria Vane is up for The Romance Review's 5 Heart Sweetheart.  Vote here.

Lady Vesta and Victoria Vane will answer your questions!  Submit them in the comment section below.

In April 2012, author Victoria Vane released her first book in The Devil DeVere series, A Wild Night’s Bride, depicting the story of Sir Edward Chambers and his beloved Phoebe.  Excited to introduce his new bride, Sir Edward rushes Phoebe to meet his daughter Lady Vesta and her godmother Baroness Diana Palmerston-Wriothesley.

Ms. Vane has now released her second book, The Virgin Huntress.  The virgin and huntress is Lady Vesta - and she hates her father's wife.  Jealous, both Lady Vesta and Baroness Diana travel to London where they meet Captain Hewett DeVere.   Despite Captain Hewett's attraction to her godmother, Vesta has decided she wants him for herself.

This is her interview.

Q:        Lady Vesta thank you for seeing me this afternoon.  I know you are probably eager to ride your horse.

Oh yes, I do love to ride! It's my favorite pastime, you know. Indeed, Papa sent my two favorite horses to London with me. No doubt it was just an effort to get back into my good graces, but I really don't know if I can ever forgive him for what he did!  Have you ever heard such a daft thing as marrying someone you've only known for three days? And Phoebe is barely five years older than I am!

I'm sorry! I seem to have digressed.  I never ride in the afternoons you see, not in Hyde Park anyway because the fashionable world does not approve of real riding. No, I  prefer the mornings before anyone is about. It's the only time a girl can take a proper gallop. It's also the time that the Dragoons exercise! I promise you have never seen such a magnificent sight as the 17^th Light Dragoons on parade! Their uniforms alone are swoon-worthy. Can I tell you a secret, Lady Sallie? It was on one of these early morning rides that I first espied Captain Hewett DeVere, the man I intend to marry.

Q:        Three days is short.  How long have you known Captain DeVere and when did he voice his intention to marry you?

Three days is ludicrous for my Papa to take a wife! As for Captain DeVere, I met him the day before yesterday and although he hasn't exactly proposed, I'm certain I can make him love me…if only I could just get him away from my godmother Diana. After all, how can he even notice my existence when she is stealing his attention all the time? It's not fair at all! She's already been wed once. Don't you think she should give other girls a chance?

Q:     Captain DeVere recently escorted you and Baroness Diana on a horseback ride through the park and you had an accident.  You fainted - and in Captain DeVere’s arms no less.

Oh yes! It was quite terrifying! I lost my reins when my horse spooked for no apparent reason and bolted through the park. I don't know what I should have done had not the gallant Captain Hew rescued me. It was just in the nick of time too as Artemis (that's my favorite mare) had taken it into her head to jump the hedgerow into Kensington Gardens! The entire ordeal was such a shock that I took a faint and didn't recover for over an hour!

Q:        Terrifying and surprising, especially since you’re an accomplished rider.  Did your accident have anything to do with Captain DeVere’s interests in the Baroness? 

Well… um…er…I'm not certain how I can really answer that question… suffice to say Aunt Di has been completely monopolizing Captain Hew since we came to London.

Q:      Tell me about your maid, Polly.  She seems to be a handful offering her opinions on how you should act to become a lady.

Polly? Why on earth would you ask about Polly? And she's not really my maid anyway. She's my godmother's maid and thinks she knows everything! She shows me no respect at all and she's too saucy by half! My godfather said it's because she's borrowed and borrowed maids are always an inferior lot. I would have to agree with him, but he and I seem to be of one accord on many things. I'm so very fortunate to have such an understanding godfather as Lord DeVere. He seems to be the only one who ever takes my side.

Q:        Does Lord DeVere take your side regarding your pursuit of Captain DeVere?  Do you think he has ulterior motives, like perhaps wanting Baroness Diana for himself?

Uncle Vic and Aunt Di? (laughs) They are like chalk and cheese! I can't imagine them together at all! But then again Uncle Vic would certainly be a better match for Aunt Di than  Hew. No, Aunt Di and Captain Hew would not suit at all! Besides, I just know he will be mad for me… if I can only just get him alone…

Q:      I’m certain he will.  So how are you going to get him alone? Won't that force his hand?

Force? (makes a face)  I'm sure I don't know what you mean by that!

A real lady is NEVER forceful. No, a lady must always be complaisant and demure, at least that's the peal Polly is always ringing over my head!

But then again, perhaps under the right… conditions… Captain Hew might be persuaded.

Curious how Vesta "makes an utter fool of herself over a man that's far beyond her reach?"  Get your copy of The Virgin Huntress today.  Want more TVH?  Read Sallie's review! 

Watch A Wild Night's Bride's book trailer.

A lover of history and deeply romantic stories, Victoria combines these elements to craft romantic historical novels and novellas for a mature reading audience. Her writing influences are Georgette Heyer for fabulous witty dialogue and over the top characters, Robin Schone , Sylvia Day, and Charlotte Featherstone for beautifully crafted prose in stories with deep sensuality, and Lila DiPasqua for creative vision in melding history with eroticism. Ms. Vane also writes critically acclaimed romantic historical fiction as Emery Lee.