Character Q&A: Lady Jane Lenwood of Virginia Barlow's THE WITCH OF RATHBORNE CASTLE

 

Today's guest is Lady Jane Lenwood from inside the pages of THE WITCH OF RATHBORNE CASTLE by Virginia Barlow.  It is a pleasure to have her with us at The Literary Nook!

What is your name? Lady Jane Lenwood, the Duchess of Rathborne

What do you look like? I have red curly hair, blue eyes, slight build, and I used to walk with a cane before my grandmother healed my twisted knee.

Where are you today and what are you doing? Today I live at Rathborne Castle with my husband Maximillian, the current Duke of Rathborne and my daughter Elizabeth.

Describe the outside of your home. I live in a castle constructed of dark gray stone with tall pillars and spires. There is an enclosed courtyard, upper gardens and lower gardens, surrounded by a high castle wall. Lawns and flower gardens stretch from the front of the castle to the road and are enclosed with a wrought iron gate. A cobblestone path winds between the gate and the heavy oak doors of the castle.

You come face to face with your worse enemy. How do you react? I rely on the voice within to guide me. It has never been wrong before and usually warned me of danger before I encounter it.

You keep a photo album of memories from your lifetime. If you could only keep one photo, which one would that be? If I were allowed to keep one likeness it would be of my father, Lord James Lenwood. He died when I was small, and I would like to show Elizabeth his likeness when she gets older.

Are you a morning person or a night owl? I tend to be a night owl. The solitude of the dark speaks to my soul.

What is your favorite piece of clothing? My favorite piece of clothing is my mother’s old cloak I found hanging in the back of the duchess’ wardrobe. The reason? The cloak contained the letters Maximillian’s father wrote all those years ago, hidden in the lining. The letters brought peace to my husband’s troubled heart over the disagreement he had with his father.

Do you have any phobias? I fear nothing and no one. I speak to the mind of all who surround me, and peace inhabits my world.

Open your wallet, purse, or briefcase. What do you find? My reticule contains gold coins, a fan, and my kerchief doused with Maximillian’s cologne.

How do you feel about mortality? Mortality is a subject I find fascinating. Grandmama and I have several experiments we’re working on for life longevity. So, we shall see how it goes.

How would your parents describe you? My memories of my father are scarce but loving. He would say I am just like him. My mother described me as plain, outspoken and an encumbrance.

What’s the last thing you do before you go to bed at night? I kiss my daughter, my husband, and then thank the gods for bringing him into my life when they did.

Who is your best friend? Maximillian, who else?

Who is your worse enemy? She no longer exists.

Are you faith-oriented? I am oriented with the voice in my head. It keeps me alive and well.

You are at the zoo. What is your favorite animal? I have heard of this “zoo” concept. One of the lords at court spoke of a collection of exotic animals being gathered up in Paris. If I were to go, I should very much like to see an alligator.

You just woke up to find that war has been declared. What’s the first thing you would do? I would prepare the castle for a siege.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was a child, a dreamed of being a grand lady with fine clothes.

If there was one thing you could change about yourself, what would that be? I would change the way magic works in our family and grant us more power.

 

 

About the Book   

Lady Jane Lenwood is abandoned and alone in an empty castle in the middle of a dark twisted forest. The locals call her a witch because she has the “sight.”

When a wounded stranger is found within the gates, she is warned he carries secrets and their lives will be intertwined.

Lady Jane walks with a limp following a riding accident the night her mother left her. And had given up on having a normal life. She blames her misfortune on the current Duke of Rathborne.

Max Radley is sent by the king to find a traitor. His search leads him to Rathborne Castle and the beautiful woman living there. He must keep his identity a secret in order to find the traitor.

Lies, deception, and a grand scheme to relieve him of his wealth have the real villians framing him for treason.

Only Jane and her supernatural ability can save him, but in order to find the answer she must face her past and the feeling she has for him.

 

About the Author 

I love being an author. It’s all about where your characters lead you. I start with a general idea. As the story unfolds, I type as fast as I can in hopes I keep up with my characters. They have had me jotting on napkins, making notes while I’m waiting in a line, and waking me up in the middle of the night. The hard part is always the ending. My characters live with me and when I reach the end of the story, it is hard to say goodbye. Sometimes, I let the story sit for a few days to make sure I’m okay with them leaving home to get published. Kind of like when you kids move out. LOL

I enjoy my grandchildren, and the time I share with them. They make me smile with their antics. I like to quilt, crochet, knit and sew. Cooking and baking are occasional itches I scratch. The rest of the time, they are necessary evils. LOL.

My greatest support comes from my husband. He has been my sounding board for all my stories. My daughters are also a great support to me. I couldn’t do it without my family.

Virginia Barlow’s recent release is the paranormal romance, The Witch of Rathborne Castle.

You can visit Virginia’s website at https://www.virginia-barlow.com or connect with her on Twitter, Goodreads and Facebook.