Tls 1423

[aeronut]

23ac: Extra follows a few balls, for a governess unlikely to play cricket (8)
I have ?b?rmore
and
18ac: Basic storyline: drug's consumed by poet with royal connections (8)
I have ??e?e?g?

[Neveracrossword]

23 Overmore, the name of a governess in fiction. Over, a few balls and More, extra.

[dannyk13]

23a.Overmore

[aeronut]

Thanks

[aeronut]

Now I have r?v?n for 20dn (english assassin to hunt down insatiably)
Raven?

[dannyk13]

(The)Raven-//Edgar Allan Poe must track down a copycat murderer (5)

[aeronut]

Thanks all

[aeronut]

I'm thinking plague for 18dn (scandal over the French lady in this satire)

[dannyk13]

How many letters and any placed?

[aeronut]

7 letters
?la?e?a
plague is wrong

[highbury57]

Looks like George Etherege who is much better known as a playwright. Etheredge appears to be a variant spelling according to Broteas.

[aeronut]

Thanks all and especially Highbury

[roslyn251254]

18a could be skel e ton...Skelton was a poet for Henry viii ??

[roslyn251254]

18d shamela

[roslyn251254]

for 16d i had co Opera te giving the O for skeletOn

[aeronut]

Eveleigh?
https://www.poemhunter.com/guinevere-eveleigh/

[aeronut]

Roslyn, Your take works for me, Ta

[highbury57]

I was originally moving in a Swift direction for 13d so Etherege sent me reluctantly back to the drawing board. Much happier with Skel(e)ton.

[aeronut]

Shamela by Fielding
Brilliant