What were your expectations before going into the house?
Having fun, meeting people I wouldn't usually have the opportunity to meet, and doing something completely different from anything I had done before.

How well do you think you were suited to the Regency era?
Very well because I understood the concept that marriage was of paramount importance to a woman then, and that a clever woman would use that marriage to enable her to do what she wanted!

Did you enjoy playing the role of chaperone?
Enormously, because both my charges are such beautiful, intelligent girls, and made my life as chaperone very easy.

Which male do you think was most suitable for your charge?
I was in the exceedingly fortunate position that both my charges had sufficient 'Regency Status' to enable them to choose whomever they liked. Money was not an issue for Miss Samuel, but as the Countess had no money herself, this aspect was vitally important and therefore I would obviously have had to recommend the richest of the gentlemen, Mr Gorell Barnes who luckily was a very charming, good-looking young man!

Which male did you personally think the most attractive?
As I love the longer hair and elegant clothes of the Regency Period, I thought all the men looked very attractive. I spent the most time with Mr. Everett as he usually sat next to me at dinner and we both went to church each week - I thought he was/is an articulate, artistic, talented, caring and outrageously funny young man. I was also able to chat to the Hermit when he was doing my portrait and would say the same about him. This in no way implies that the other young men did not have the same qualities, merely that I knew these two best!

What was your best time?
I had thought that I would be considered too old to ride in Regency times, so learning to ride side-saddle (and managing to canter on my third lesson!) was absolutely fantastic. And when I rode up the hill to see where the Hermit lived I was able to see the whole estate in the way it would have been seen magical!

I also really enjoyed meeting all the fascinating visitors we had all experts in their field, which was an unexpected bonus. There are too many to name them all, but I particularly remember Mr Molloy with the glass Armonica, Professor von Hagens and his Bodyworks, Mr Fortes Meyer, the 'Mesmerist' and Mr Foulkes, the 'Dandy'!

What was your worst time?
There was one chaperone that obviously had a great problem with her status in the house and continually behaved in a most 'un-Regency' manner i.e. she tried to put me down at every opportunity, made unpleasant remarks about my charges in my hearing! and was exceedingly rude to me on several occasions, which I found very difficult. In her role as chaperone, she should have tried to hide any problems she had, and even try to ingratiate herself with me to safeguard her charge's prospects in the house! I seriously thought about asking her to leave on several occasions, and discussed it with Mr Gorell Barnes, but decided that, although it was very 'un-Regency', I really liked her charge and thought it was not fair that she should have to leave just because her chaperone could not behave properly.

Do you have any regrets?
I would have liked to have got to know some of the other guests better which I am trying to do now.

What annoyed you most in the house?
The people who didn't seem to be trying to behave in a 'Regency' way. I felt they were all far too intelligent to be able to get away with saying they couldn't do it!

Do you think your experience in the house has changed you?
Not permanently. At first I found it terribly difficult to make any decisions for myself, and I could not stand people sitting or standing too close to me as personal space was very important in Regency times! Luckily I feel I am back to normal now!

What did you miss from the 21st Century?
My children and friends.

Who will you keep in touch with?
Most, but particularly the Countess and Mrs. Hammond.

What are you doing now?
Seeing my family and friends and playing bridge!

What would you have liked to see happen to your Regency personae?
In 'Regency terms' I was a complete failure as I did not manage to get even one proposal for either of my girls! Also, the Kentchurch Trustees would have been very disappointed that I was unable to persuade the Host to give up his enjoyable lifestyle in favour of marriage! So in those terms, it would have been nice if I had been more successful!

If you were to do it again what would you do differently?
This is impossible to answer in my view, because it would not be the same. Hindsight is all very well, but...

Is there anything else interesting about your experiences?
One of the things that I found very difficult as I'm sure others did too was having to give complete control of my life over to other people! But the up-side was that after a week or so, I was able to get to sleep very easily as I had nothing to think or worry about! I found it very sad that some people seemed to think that the status they were given in the house reflected reality. In my view and in my life, thank goodness status and money are irrelevant; all that matters is whether a person is a kind, caring, fun individual. In Regency times 'breeding' was the most important thing, whereas now it is 'celebrity status' that counts. So nothing really changes, I suppose!