Regency 101---What's For Breakfast?

 

Breakfast in Regency London

 

 

Breakfast. It seems like such a simple thing. Of course, I knew they probably didn't have Pop Tarts or Frozen Waffles (poor them!) during the Regency Era, but I still wasn't exactly sure what they did have. Or when.

 

Here's what I found out. Because of the time it took to get a fire going in the mornings and prepare food, breakfast usually didn't take place until 10 or 11 am. Closer to 10 in the country and closer to 11 for the fancy city folks. In the time before breakfast, Ladies and Gentlemen would write letters, practice the piano  (ladies) or take a stroll. Of course, getting dressed and coiffed took some time as well. It's not like they threw on a pair of shorts, a T-shirt and some flip flops then shoved their hair into a ponytail.

 

Breakfast was generally a fairly large meal consisting of toast, rolls, butter, jam and an assortment of meats (possibly yesterday's leftovers served cold).

 

In Lady Katherine's Comeuppance, I played it safe and only mentioned toast. But, as you can see from this excerpt, even an innocent piece of toast can lead to naughty thoughts.



 

 

When she entered the breakfast room, Thomas stood and held out her chair for her.

She steeled herself against him. “Thank you,” she said on gritted teeth. 

“It is my pleasure to assist you with your seat.”

She could swear his tone mocked her as much as the mischievous glint in his eye did.  He would not be favored with a reply.  She refused to look at him and continued with her breakfast, covering her toast with butter and taking a bite while scrupulously pretending he did not exist. 

“Spread more.”  His words had her choking on her breakfast. Had he not said the same thing to her just hours ago, as she sat before the mirror in his bed chamber, her sex glistening back at her from the mirror?

 Surely he would not refer to such a thing in broad daylight, and in front of the help, no less.

 If the help were not already curious about relations between Lady Katherine and the new earl, they certainly would be if she continued to act as though his seemingly innocent, though obviously intended to provoke, statements held any meaning beyond the obvious. 

“My lord?” She looked at him indolently over her tea, once she had her coughing subdued. 

“The butter. You will want to spread it further. Get wide coverage. Leave nothing untouched.” 

“Of course,” she said, fighting to maintain her composure, though she could not help but squirm in her seat as additional memories plagued her mind. His fingers joining hers in exploring her sex. His mouth…she could not think of what he had done with his mouth upon her…no she would not entertain a single thought about the feel of his mouth sucking on her most intimate places, pulling the hardened nub of her sex into his mouth to lave it with his tongue until she cried out with helpless surrender. She most assuredly would not remember how she had moaned and buried her hands deep into the thickness of his hair while his mouth plundered her core.