Andalee
It might be Barbara Cartland, read her myself as a "youngster".
Diana

Andalee, no need to make excuses. Most young women read all sorts of romances in their teen years, trying to figure out the whole mysterious business. Some continue to enjoy them all their lives, and why not? More power to them.

I think it unlikely to be Barbara Cartland because you describe the heroines as intelligent (and also because of the presence of the mother or aunt to make a dress). I read some of her novels in my misspent youth, and even wrote a parody when I was about 16. I wonder if I still have it tucked away somewhere? TSTL is the acronym I've seen. (It's listed on Wikipedia under Romance Novel, along with another delightful term that would suit BC's heroes to a T.)

Noodling around, I found a list of gothic romance writers you could check. Perhaps seeing the author's name would spark recognition. At the least, you could amuse yourself by seeing which authors were really the same person.

You could also check www.allaboutromance.com, but they seem to be focusing on more recent novels.

Rosefolly

Here is a link that might be useful: Go to the section marked Gothic Romance

possibly Phillipa Carr or Georgette Heyer??

If you ever find out let us know. I could appreciate any author who lets us know how the dashing male hero really feels while plucking the winsome lass from her horse. LOL!

Keep at it...you will find out about it on this site, if it can be found. I looked for a title for about 20 years or more, until I stumbled on a post by Frieda. What a wonderful feeling!
Bob

Try this message board - it has been great help to me when I have been looking for half-forgotten romance novels or authors:

Here is a link that might be useful: All Abou Romance's Reader to Reader message board

OMG! I have been casually trying to remember the very same book perhaps! A governess/companion? stuns the ballroom with her amazing green silk gown that she made herself. The book was very Victoria Holtish and one I read as a teenager. As "clean" romance was all I read until I was about 18 the authors have all blended into one and I recall so few names.
It was not Velda Johnson or Jane Aiken Hodge though.
If you ever find out..let me know.

Thanks so much, everyone for all of the ideas so far. I'm going to go check out the forums linked above, and keep wracking my brain. :o) Bumblebeez, that's the book. Wasn't the dress described something like "a simple tube of green silk"? Which, by the way, was rather disappointing to this teenager who loved full, flounced skirts and elaborate old dresses! lol Maybe that's why I remember it.

So far none of the names suggested ring a bell. My mom thought maybe Spencer was the last name, but that doesn't seem quite right, either. More familiar that the others, but still not quite it. I may just have to start browsing through the adult fiction section of the library and see what I see. (It's pretty big, though, so I'm hoping the web will help, first! lol)

It is not any of the Regencies of Georgette Heyer. You might consider taking your query over to one of the many romance sites, where there are people who are very well versed indeed in the genre.

Brenda

Since several people mentioned Victoria Holt, I thought there might be some interest in this website. She wrote a lot of books, gothic romances as Holt, fictional historical biographies as Jean Plaidy, and historical novels as Phillipa Carr. Busy woman. Her real name was Eleanor Hibbert.

Rosefolly

Here is a link that might be useful: Victoria Holt titles and UK covers

There's a Laveryl Spencer, I know that's not spelled right.

Hello all! Am I too late to join this conversation?
I now that Barbara Cartland was discarded as the author of the novel you are looking for, but there is one book she wrote that seems to meet all the requirements. Here is the summary (maybe it will ring a bell?):

"Lady Marisa Berrington-Crecy had decided to write a bookÂan amusing, scandalous, gossipy book that would set Edwardian society on its decadent ear. And what better place to gather information than Vox Castle, home of the Duke of Milverley, an attractive widower noted for enjoying the favors of married women. So Marisa set off disguised as governess to the Duke's young daughter. She was resolved never to fall in love with any man until she met the Duke and found him to be devastatingly handsome. The Duke himself was inflamed by Marisa's pure, innocent beautyÂher Titian hair and luminous green eyes. But one day he unexpectedly discovered her manuscript and, in a violent rage, banished her from his house. Only then did Marisa realize that her one, true love might be lost to her forever."

The protagonist (redheaded, green eyes, white skin) wear a spectacular green gown during one of the dinners at the DukeÂs house. The dress is mentioned several times during the novel because she looked so beautiful, so "breathtaking" that even one of the DukeÂs guests went to her bedroom in the middle of the night to seduce her. The book is called "Lessons in love" and you can find it in Amazon for 1 cent.

Here is the part of the description of the gown:
"Of green tulle it was spangled all over with tiny diamante. The train was a froth of tulle frills which were echoed by the clouds which framed her white shoulders. The décolletage was slightly daring for an unmarried girl, but Marisa did not care."

Here is a link that might be useful: Amazon link with cover of the book: photo of the green dress!!

Thanks Ara but it's not Barbara Cartland.
Andalee, I had high hopes for the reader's paradise post but nothing so far.
This book is, well, vintage! I've been researching gothic authors but once I find a name that seems familar I can't find anymore info. Elizabeth Gresham perhaps? Who knows? Velda Johnson?
The very fact that you and I remember tiny pieces of this particular book is peculiar enough to think other gothic readers might remember it too.

Thanks for all of the recent suggestions. It's not Lavyrle Spencer, and not Barbara Cartland. I also remember that the green gown was a "simple tube of silk", or something very close to that phrase.

Lessons in love sounds familiar--I wouldn't be surprised if it was one that I've read.

Bumblebeez, I've also combed that pdf list that's posted above, and not one name rings a bell. I've done a fair bit of searching at Amazon.com, as well . . . looking through the Gothic romances by author, and come up with nothing.

Maybe Google really does know. I just have to remember the right phrase! lol

Thanks, everyone, and keep the suggestions coming!

Andalee

Have anyone of you tried the website fictiondb.com? It's awesome and it has a 14-days free trial. You can search complete author lists by author, series, publisher, etc. But the most peculiar characteristic is that you can also search by KEYWORDS IN THE SYNOPSIS!

So if you remember the name of the protagonists or something else, you may find it here! So far I found a book I read when I was 12 called Second-best bride, and all I recalled of it was a word: Helios, and that it took place in Greek. Well, it took me 5 seconds to find the book I have been searching for years.

Hope you find it, and if you do, please let us know! Now I'm feeling too curious and I really want to read the dang book! =)

What about Phyllis Hastings? She wrote wonderful books and two that I still have, though they are literally falling apart are 'All Earth To Love' and 'Day of the Dancing Sun'. Does anyone know the third book. It was supposed to be trilogy. Hope it's Phyllis for you! Don't you hate when a name is right on the very edge of memory...?
Kim

Kim, I've looked at Phyllis Hastings' stuff at Amazon, and it looks promising--well, as far as I can tell, that is. None of them have synopses, and only one had a review (saying that while the book reviewed wasn't all that great, Phyllis' other works are good).

So, worth a try. :o) I'm going to go check out my library website now . . .

The third one is "The Gates of morning"

Dear arayabe,

Thank you so much! I am going to go look for it now. I bought Day of the Dancing Sun when I was like 15 and now I'm 47. Was helping my daughter move this past weekend and came across Day of the Dancing Sun, sequel to All Earth To Love, read it and remembered all I like about it long ago. After all these years to find the third book is a joy. Again, thanks!!
Kim

I have about a half-dozen Clare Darcy novels (Lady Pamela, Cressida, Cecily, Allegra, Letty, Rolande, & Victoire), and although none of them is the story you're looking for, they are similar and I can see one of Darcy's heroes making the iron fencepost comment.

One of the burning loins writers that comes to mind is Kathleen Woodiwiss.

Dorothy Eden?
Norah Lofts?