An Interview with Gwenllian Powys from The Lady’s Companion
Welcome back, friends, to Mornings from Character Café! Today, we have a very special guest with us, fresh from 1873. She’s a young Welsh woman whose journey takes her from her beloved home in Cardiff all the way to Scotland—and beyond. Please give a warm welcome to Gwenllian Powys, better known as Gwen.
[Smiling shyly, dimples showing] Thank you, Amy. This café of yours is charming, though I must confess it feels a bit unusual to find myself here, away from the bustle of Lady Campbell’s household.
I promise you’ll feel right at home! Let’s begin at the beginning. You’re clearly a young lady with dreams. What were your hopes for your future before life pulled you in other directions?
[Fingers brushing the rim of her teacup] Ah, my dreams… I longed to pursue learning—to study at university, even. The University of London has only just opened its doors to a few women, and I dared to imagine myself among them. But my family thought such ambitions unseemly for a woman of my station. Instead, I was placed in service as a companion to Lady Campbell.
That must have been quite a change. How did you feel about it at first?
[With a wry smile] Torn. On the one hand, I bristled at the thought that my dreams were to be packed away like last season’s dresses. On the other, the journey promised adventure. New places. New people. A life wider than the one I had known in Wales. And truthfully, my heart has always beat faster at the idea of discovery.
Speaking of hearts, I hear a certain childhood friend named David has walked this road with you. Care to tell us more?
[Blushes, glancing down] David has always been steadfast—loyal, kind, and far wiser than I. We grew up together on the estate. I confess I did not realize until recently how deeply I valued him. Traveling together under Lady Campbell’s employ has revealed much… though whether he shares my feelings, I cannot yet say with certainty.
That uncertainty gives me goosebumps! Your story also hints at secrets—things you never expected to uncover. How have those discoveries changed you?
Secrets of one’s past can unsettle the very ground beneath your feet. What I learned shook me, yes—but it also revealed that belonging is not always about blood or station. Sometimes it is about the people who love you and the God who guides you, even when you stumble. My faith has deepened in ways I could not have imagined back in Cardiff.
That’s beautifully said. Since you are here at the cafe, I am wondering what items on our menu represent you and the places you’ve been in your story?
If I may choose a tea to represent myself, I believe I would select something called Victorian London Fog. At first, the name alone drew me, for London has long been a dream of mine—the place I imagined myself pursuing studies and walking its great halls of learning.
Ooo! Great choice! My favorite is from Harney & Sons: https://www.harney.com/products/victorian-london-fog-hrp-tin-of-30-sachets The tea itself is a blend of black leaves with bergamot, lavender, and the faintest touch of vanilla. To me, it is both strong and delicate—much like the journey you have found yourself upon. The lavender soothes, much as faith calms the restless heart. The vanilla lends a gentle sweetness, reminding me of the simple joys of friendship and belonging. And the black tea itself carries the strength one must summon when facing change or the weight of secrets.
It is a tea for dreamers, but also for those learning to stand firm. Perhaps that is why it feels so very much like me.
I love that you picked a tea with a tie to London because I also have a character who is going to end up in Bieldfell on Heather Wynd. Like you, she will spend a couple of days in London first!
That’s wonderful. Will I have the opportunity to meet your character?
[Laughs] Not unless you end up in the Guinness Book of World Records for longevity! Sorry, you don’t know what that is, do you… My character will be on Heather Wynd 150 years after you are there.
One hundred and fifty years? My, that is quite a wait! I daresay even Lady Campbell’s patience would be tested by such a span of time. Still, how delightful to know that Heather Wynd shall continue to welcome kindred spirits long after my footsteps fade. Perhaps your character and I may share the same patch of sunlight in the garden, though centuries apart.”
I love the thought of that. What would you like to have for breakfast to go with your tea?
If I had to choose a breakfast treat to represent me, I would very much like to claim the Welsh Cakes. They are small and simple, yes, but also enduring. Sweet with currants, dusted lightly with sugar, and always best when shared among loved ones. I think of them as a taste of home—humble yet comforting, familiar yet always welcome, whether at a hearth in Wales or upon a journey far from it. In a way, they remind me of myself: a little plain at first glance, perhaps, but carrying within the warmth of belonging and the hope of sweeter moments to come.
Oh Gwen, I have to tell you something that makes me smile. Even though I live all the way over in Pennsylvania, we have Welsh Cakes too—though we call them Welsh Cookies. My dad made them nearly every week when I was growing up. He was our strong-armed baker and our comedian rolled into one. He had this ‘magic trick’ with the cup he used to cut the rounds. He’d cover the cup with newspaper so it looked like a cylinder, recite a silly rhyme, then sneakily let the cup fall into his lap while continuing to move the cup-shaped newspaper around the table. When he slammed the ‘cup’ onto the table, he’d drop the real one to the floor at the same moment, and we kids thought he’d pounded it clean through the wood! To this day, I can’t taste a Welsh Cookie without remembering his laughter and strength. To me, they’ll always be flavored with love and joy.
[Eyes soft with wonder] How delightful, Amy! It seems Welsh Cakes—whether by that name or as your Cookies—carry more than currants and sugar. They carry stories, laughter, and love across oceans and generations. Perhaps that is their truest sweetness.
Here is a video that shows how to make Welsh cakes: https://youtu.be/y3sE67zDxeM?si=UuV5WyddPgoXek03
I’d like to introduce our readers to a local tea shop that specializes in Welsh cookies: https://www.welshteashoppe.com/ I plan to visit this weekend to try their autumn flavors, including pumpkin and maple pecan.
I have never had either flavor. They sound delicious.
Before we close, Gwen, what would you tell readers today—women who may feel their dreams are out of reach?
I would say—do not let the world’s “no” extinguish the spark within you. God’s plans often unfold in ways we could never chart for ourselves. What feels like a detour may be His path to something far richer. Hold fast to Him. And do not be afraid to love, even when the outcome is uncertain.
Friends, I think we can all take that to heart. Gwen, it’s been such a delight to have you at Character Café today.
[Smiling warmly] Thank you, Amy. This morning with you has been a gift.
Readers, the first book in the Our House on Heather Wynd collection is such a treasure. Here is my review:
Anna Jensen’s The Lady’s Companion swept me away to 1870s Wales, Scotland, and beyond with a story both tender and full of quiet intrigue. Gwenllian Powys is a heroine you can’t help but root for—torn between duty and dreams, friendship and love, uncertainty and faith. I loved traveling with her from Cardiff to Heather Wynd, sharing in her discoveries, her questions, and her heart. Jensen’s writing brings the Victorian world to life with elegance and warmth, while weaving in hope and belonging. This is historical drama at its most engaging—rich, heartfelt, and beautifully faith-filled.
More about The Lady’s Companion:
Welcome to Heather Wynd!
She has dreams for her future. What happens when secrets of the past intrude on her present?
If you love historical drama with a hint of adventure and intrigue, you’ll be sure to enjoy The Lady’s Companion
Cardiff, April 1873: Gwenllian Powys dreams of academic achievements, possibly even one of the few coveted places for women at the University of London. However, her family considers such ideals unsuitable for a lady of her status, arranging instead a position as companion to the widowed Lady Campbell.
When Lady Campbell decides to return to her childhood home in Scotland, Gwenllian is excited at the prospect of new adventures. The one dampener to her enthusiasm is the muted response of her beloved godparents, yearly visitors to Wales from their village on the Suffolk coastline.
Bidding farewell to David, her childhood friend and now the estate’s groom, only adds to her trepidation.
Far from the restrictions and protection of her family, Gwenllian uncovers secrets to a past she would never have guessed. Will her discovery derail her present? And how will it shape her future?
Our House on Heather Wynd
Our House on Heather Wynd is the second series in the multi-author, multi-genre Our House collection. Set along the shore of Loch Ness in the rugged Highlands of Scotland, the village of Bieldfell welcomes all. With stories of redemption and salvation behind every door, you’re sure to find a new tale of romance, intrigue, humour or heart. All you have to do is knock!
Other books can be read in any order:
The Lady’s Companion by Anna Jensen
The Constant Pray-er by Caryl McAdoo
The Highlander’s Secret by Rena Groot
The Lover’s Bridge by Lynn Dean
The Nessie Hunter’s Diaries by Lori Soard
The Freelancer’s Hope by Claire Lagerwall
The Recluse’s Vindication by Danielle Grandinetti
The Nanny’s Lost Legend by Patti Wolf
The Widow’s Choice by Francine Beaton
The Sisters’ Tour by Amy Walsh
The Carer’s Conundrum by Anna Jensen
The Baker’s Pickle by Vida Li Sik
The Tea Maker’s Blend by Caroline Johnston
The Executive’s Dilemma by Allyson Koekhoven
She has dreams for her future. What happens when secrets of the past intrude on her present?
If you love historical drama with a hint of adventure and intrigue, you’ll be sure to enjoy The Lady’s Companion
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