bawd
Anne | December 9th, 2005 | No Comments »1811 Vulgar Tongue
A female procuress.
Additional information
Same as an abbess, a bawd was the head of the local house of ill repute.
The last of the naughty Regency women WotD…at least for now! 
Archive for the ‘Terms for female characters’ Category
Cyprian
Anne | December 8th, 2005 | No Comments »Merriam-Webster
Prostitute
Additional information
Some romance novels reference a Cyprian’s Ball where the ladies of the night gather with the eligible men of society, who vie to offer them sponsorship (carte blanche to be discussed in a future WotD post). An innocent heroine may end up at the Cyprian’s Ball on accident (or to catch a villain, research, etc.) and be born away at the end of the night in the arms of the hero. A naughtier heroine might bear the hero away instead.
demimonde (demi-monde, demimondaine)
Anne | December 7th, 2005 | No Comments »Merriam-Webster
A class of women on the fringes of respectable society supported by wealthy lovers.
demimondaine (demi-mondaine): a woman of the demimonde
Additional information
Courtesans were part of the demimonde.
courtesan
Anne | December 6th, 2005 | No Comments »Merriam-Webster
A prostitute with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele
Additional information
Courtesans had their own society on the fringes of London society where they mixed with the best of the best. The best of the best MEN, of course — or women with very fast reputations.
The heroine of Masquerading the Marquess masqueraded as a courtesan.
