An Interview with Micah Wychcombe, Lord Wincanton, from Lords of Honor

K. R. Richards is the author of the Lords of Avalon series: Lord of the Abbey, Lords of Honor, and the first Lords of Avalon series Novella, Lord Greyton's Fall From Grace which are on Amazon.com now.  Book 3 in the Lords of Avalon series, Lords of Retribution, will be released in late February 2013 and book 4, Lords of Atonement, will be out in fall/winter 2013.

Today I am welcoming Micah Wychcombe, Lord Wincanton, one of the heroes of Lords of Honor to the K. R. Richards and the World of Avalon Blog.

K. R.: Hello, Micah I am certain there are many ladies happy to see you here today. You’ve become something of a fan favorite among the Lords of Avalon fans, how do you feel about being a fan favorite?

Micah: I had no idea. I am flattered. I must admit it is a rather odd feeling and something quite unusual for me. Generally, in the past, it has always been Harry, Lyon, Jack, Newt, Lachlan and Luc who were favorites among the ladies in Town and wherever we might be.

K. R.: So you would consider those gentlemen the ladies’ men among the Avalon Society?

Micah: Well, no, not any longer. Harry and Lyon are happily married now, as am I. I do believe Jack can be considered out of the marriage mart. I daresay Luc, Newt and Lachlan are still considered to be ladies’ men in Town and appearances indicate they are indeed still available. Trevan is considered to be the most eligible catch of the upcoming Season, being the Duke of Penrose; his cousin Gabriel is being touted as the most desirable catch. I have heard he is considered among the ladies to be rather good looking. I daresay the pair might also find themselves off the marriage mart and wiped off the books in the clubs before next Season begins. They seem to be heading in that direction as far as I can tell. I do not pry into my colleagues’ personal business, though many of them enjoy prying into mine.

K. R.:  Do you mind telling me who pries into your business, Micah?

Micah: Lyon is the worst. He enjoys bringing up incidents we might not want to be made known to the general public,   especially our new wives. Harry can be rather nosy at times; which I find highly amusing for he is constantly after his lovely wife, and my dear friend, Rowena, for her tendency to make matches. He is forever telling her to let people make their own way when in fact he does not. Trevan enjoys ribbing certain persons about their past transgressions. And Luc, most of you know him as Wyldhurst, has the habit of saying whatever comes to mind even in the company of ladies; which can be harmful, especially when you are married. There are just some things a man does not want his wife to hear about his past, you know. You can trust all of them with serious issues or Avalon Society business, I can say that. I find many of them take great pleasure in bringing up incidents that one might find embarrassing. Charlie was a great prankster as well. I miss him. We all do.

K. R.: Do you have anything you wish to tell on any of them? 

Micah: (After a pause, he grins.) Yes, well why not. Harry certainly told on the rest of us didn’t he?  Wyldhurst is forever getting himself into trouble with the ladies. It is primarily because he prefers variety and keeps quite a few ladies in the wings at all times. At a large ball two years ago, three of his mistresses were all present and he had professed to all of them in the throes of passion that each one of them was the only one. It was quite an interesting evening, as you can well imagine. He was kept very busy. He managed to talk both Lyon and Jack into helping him, ah, entertain the others while he would appease one. In the end, the three ladies caught on; and they ganged up on him. To make a long story very short, Luc was caught in the study, with his trousers down, in a sort of, um, compromising condition, with a scarf tied about his eyes, and was completely alone in the room. There was not another soul present. He was caught by one of the most notorious gossips in Town. Although we thought his reputation might be irreparably ruined; this was not the case. For some inexplicable reason ladies adore Lucien Saintmaur, Lord Wyldhurst, even though they know he is a thorough and self-admitted rake. They flocked to him in droves after the incident. Of course, the notorious gossip did describe his, shall we say, nude portions in great and vivid detail. Lyon told me that most of his paramours gift him with expensive scarves since that time. I’ve heard he has an extensive collection. Of scarves.

K. R.: I have never heard that story, thank you for sharing, Micah! That is definitely something to consider for Luc’s story whenever that time comes. What of Harry and Lyon?

Micah: Well, they are married. My wife would be unhappy with me if their wives, who are now Libby’s close friends, were upset by something I said. I will refrain from telling tales on them. I can say Newt has a similar effect on women as Wyldhurst does, though he never says much of anything. They just follow him and hang on the few words he does speak. I have heard a few rumors about why that is, but I cannot repeat those rumors in mixed company. Lachlan also attracts flocks of women. Of course, he is a flatterer and has a great deal of charm. His brogue always thickens in the presence of beautiful women. They seem to like it, and he knows it. The ladies love all of the Trevelyans as well; August, his brother Arthur and their cousin Marcus. There is some old Cornish Folk Tale about the devilish good looks of the Trevelyans.  

K. R.: You mentioned that since some of you have married or may be close to it that your ladies have all become friends. I remember in Lords of Honor when your wife Libby and Rowena were giving, shall we say, marital advice to Sophia. Apparently Jack overheard. How did you feel about that incident?

Micah: I thought it was very sweet. Libby was trying to be helpful to Sophia, as was Rowena. The ladies were a tad embarrassed that Jack overheard them; yet they managed to laugh about it. I found it very amusing. It was difficult not to laugh in front of them but I did accomplish it, as did Charlie. As for the ladies being friends, we have all much been in each other’s company during these continuing attacks upon us by the Knights of the Brown Order. And due to the danger, the ladies must often stay indoors. They have become fine friends. I think it is wonderful for them all. They have truly banded together. Harry says they are a force to be reckoned with; yet I think he says that because he seems to believe his wife, Rowena, is the ring leader often times. I don’t think that is true. I think the other ladies naturally turn to her because she was the first wife among our inner circle of Avalon Society members, and she was in Glastonbury with us where this whole business began.  

K. R. One reader wants to know if you Avalon Society members ever play pranks upon one another.

Micah:  Not so much lately, since some of us have married. In years past, yes, we were forever playing pranks upon one another; especially when the majority of us were at University together. Often times we joined forces and played pranks on other students as well. Even in Town following our University days, we did play some devilish pranks on each other. I cannot speak of them in mixed company, and I do not wish my wife to hear of certain things I did in those times. These are definitely some of those activities that it is best not to repeat.

K. R.: Ah, I see. You’ve been in London, and are currently in Cornwall. Do you miss Horethorne Hall in Templecombe?  I have gathered that in the past you were a homebody.   

Micah:  There are times I wish Libby and I could have more privacy and quiet time alone but what the Avalon Society is doing in Cornwall currently is very important. There is great historical significance in what we are discovering through our research and searches. We are all like family. For us to be working together so closely again has been a very pleasant experience for us all. Most of us have had to put our own personal projects aside while we are in Cornwall. I do miss my frequent trips up to Cadbury Hill. I have been fascinated with the place since I was a boy. When I learned the hill was believed to be King Arthur’s Camelot, I couldn’t stay away. I imagined myself as King Arthur or Lancelot many times when I was a lad. I have done ongoing research on the Arthurian for the last fifteen years, and I dig at Cadbury whenever I can. I have found some amazing artifacts. Some Celtic and Saxon jewelry I found were probably the most valuable items I’ve discovered. Even pottery shards tell me a great deal about the people who lived at the fortress over the centuries. I am eager to take Libby there when we return to Templecombe. It is beautiful up there in the spring and summer with the wildflowers and grasses. I think she will enjoy it.

K. R.: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us, Micah?

Micah: Oh yes, one thing. Although they are not all members of the Avalon society, we have very much appreciated the members of The Department working with us while in Cornwall. Of course Marrek Penaluna, the Earl of St. Erth is one of our original members of the Avalon Society. We have benefited from working with his colleagues Ruan Menwennick, The Earl of Ince and Creed St. Germans, Lord Roscarrow. We have just met Stephen Johnstone, Lord Lyndhurst, the head of The Department and Francis Nightshade, whom everyone calls simply Shade. Apparently Shade is the Department’s secret weapon of sorts. I don’t quite know why yet, but I’m certain I will find out soon enough. We are very happy to have their help. Thank you for having me today, K. R. and I would like to thank all of your readers. It was a privilege to be here with you today.

K.R.: Thank you, Micah. I’m not certain who will be interviewed on the World of Avalon Blog next time. Are there any requests?