Her Grace of Haverford watched her guest enter the room. What a stunning young lady.
England’s newest duchess was dressed in a peach-colored gown of the first stare. It fit her to perfection. She carried a reticule that matched the pattern of the dress, and wore short gloves in a slightly paler shade. Discreet diamonds sparkled at her ears and a delicate pearl and diamond pendant lay on her chest suspended by a chain of what looked to be white gold.
However, Eleanor was used to such displays. What caught her attention was the woman’s eyes. Dark, nearly ebon eyes possessed of a penetrating depth that could have frightened, had the expression they held not been so openly curious. She had raven wing hair, a cream and honey complexion, and deep rose-hued lips. A delicate slope of nose sat between two symmetrical and classically high cheeks. Her slim figure moved with a thoughtless grace that the most practiced diamond of the season would never be able to match. Stunning yes, but all paled beneath that depthless stare.
Eleanor knew next to nothing about the wife Margris had chosen, but she needed only to see the woman to know she was formidable.
“Welcome to Haverford House, Your Grace.”
An impish smile formed, lighting up those eyes. “I am not certain I will ever become accustomed to having a title, Your Grace.”
“I suspect you will do very well with it.” Smiling back, she gestured to a chair that faced her own. “Please sit. And please address me as Aunt Eleanor, as your husband and many of my younger friends do.”
“Thank you, Aunt Eleanor.” A very slight quaver in the lady’s voice revealed that she suffered some uneasiness. Possibly she’d been told the Duchess of Haverford was a powerful woman who could make or break a young woman’s hopes and dreams with a single word. “My full name is Celestine, but my intimates call me Celie. Of course, you may be more comfortable calling me niece.” The new Duchess of Margris settled herself. “I am very pleased to meet you.”
“As I am pleased to meet you. It is fortunate that we could both be available this afternoon. I understand from my son that between shopping and your husband you are being kept quite busy. How do you take your tea?”
“Just lemon, if you please.”
Eleanor filled a cup and handed it over.
Celie added two small biscuits to the edge of the saucer and placed the beverage and all on a tiny pie crust table beside her chair.
“Caleb—my husband—is occupied nearly all of every day with business at the home office. He says that even though Britain is now officially at peace with the United States there is much work to be done to ensure the treaty of Ghent remains strong.”
“Aldridge, too, is very occupied with what is happening in Europe. Too many lives have been lost or changed forever, and not usually for the better. We must pray that the next encounter with Napoleon will settle matters for once and for all.” Her Grace paused to sip her tea. “Do I understand correctly,” Eleanor continued. “That while you lived in New Orleans, you helped enslaved people escape to freedom.”
“I was one of many.”
“But you are here and others are not. You must have been in danger much of the time.”
Celie looked down at her tea. “Helping the enslaved to escape is against the law in New Orleans. Had I been caught; I could have been enslaved myself.”
“Oh heavens. Would that happen to anyone who helped escapees, or just…” Her Grace of Haverford let her words trail off. She blushed. “I’m sorry, I don’t usually make such gaffs.”
Celie laughed. “Yes, I have one quarter negro blood in my veins. However, I do not trade on it. I prefer to make my way by my merits. Just as I prefer people who ask questions instead of leaping to unwarranted conclusions.”
Eleanor accepted the reassurance that Her Grace of Magris had taken no offense. “You are wise for one so young.”
“Wisdom is not exclusive to the elderly” the younger woman chided gently. “It is the purview of any who learn from experience. I was fortunate to have not only my own experiences to learn from but also those of my mother.”
“Tell me about her.”
Celie seemed eager to do so. “She is what is known as a ‘free woman of color.’ Meaning she is not enslaved. She possesses documents that prevent her ever being enslaved. However, that did not make her life easy, just easier than most people of color. She was born and raised in St. Domingue where she met my father. Because laws and custom forbid the marriage of white and colored, she became his ménagère, and moved to New Orleans where he had his sugar plantation.”
“Ménagère? That is a contractual relationship between a man and woman much like a marriage but there is no marriage involved.”
“You are very well informed, Your Grace.”
“I’ve had cause to study marriage law and contracts and ran across the term in my research.”
Celie raised an enquiring brow, but Eleanor’s marriage and the other problems her family suffered because of that institution were not for discussion, even with women she’d known for years. Time for a change of subject. “Being Duchess of Haverford affords me a number of advantages few women possess.” One must always focus on the positives. “One of the advantages is the ability to support a number of charities. Last February, when the Thames froze over, the merchants of London held a Frost Fair on the frozen river. My friends and I took advantage of the opportunity to host a ball with the intent of raising funds to help returning soldiers and their families also the families of our deceased heroes.”
“I would love to help if there are charitable organizations that assist the men returning from war.” Celie spoke with an enthusiasm Eleanor could not doubt.
Eleanor smiled, and set her tea aside. “In that case. Let me tell you about the Ladies’ Society For The Care of the Widows and Orphans of Fallen Heroes and the Children of Wounded Veterans.”
Celie’s response to the ridiculous name was diplomatic. “That’s a very long name.”
“And we do some very difficult work. At last year’s ball and other events during the year, we raised several tens of thousands of pounds and have put it to very good use. However, treating the wounded in body and spirit, helping to support families, to house, feed, clothe and school orphans is a tremendous undertaking. We’ve almost exhausted the funds we raised last year.”
“We are, if I understand correctly, in the height of the London season,” Celie observed. “I’m sure I could persuade Caleb to allow me to hold a charitable ball or reception for your organization.”
“That is very kind of you my dear, but what if I, and the other committee members hold a reception to welcome you into the ton,” Eleanor suggested. “We could have a number of English artists create paintings and sculptures for auction during the reception.”
“I like that idea, Aunt Eleanor, “but only if we hold the reception for a large number of returning veterans. They deserve public recognition for the great work they’ve done. You could still introduce me to the ton, but I would not like to be the center of attention when those men need it so much more that I.”
“Your modesty does you credit. Since you are agreeable, let me ring for my secretary and we can start planning immediately. The Ladies Society will meet next week. I’d like you to attend the meeting so I may introduce you. Then you and I can present our plans and seek the aid of the other members of the Society.”
“That is an excellent idea. May I use one of your footmen to send a note round to my husband at the home office explaining that I am delayed. We had dinner plans that may need to change.”
“Certainly. I’ll instruct my secretary to bring pen and paper for you. Now here is what I think we should do first….”
Celie is the heroine of the third book in my Duchess series, here’s a little more information about the book.
About The Creole Duchess: A duke in disguise, a creole miss determined to get her own way, a curse, and two nations at war, is love even possible?
New Orleans Creole, Miss Celestine St. Cyr-Duval refuses to live under the thumb of some man chosen by her parents. Celie will do everything to keep freedom of choice for herself and others. But fate interferes in the form of a duke disguised as British businessman, Caleb Elmond. A relationship with Caleb would find approval with her mother, but both Celie and Caleb have secrets that put them on opposite sides of a great conflict and could destroy them both.
With the Battle of New Orleans looming, can these two strangers from warring countries compromise and protect each other, or will fear and betrayal end both their lives?
The Creole Duchess, Duchess Series Book Three is expected to launch in late 2023. The pre-order price of $0.99 for this long-awaited conclusion to the Duchess Series ends on release day.
Available for Pre-order at .99 cents until October 30, launch day. Amazon Other Retailers.
About Rue Allyn: Author of historical and contemporary romances, Rue Allyn fell in love with happily ever after the day she heard her first story. (She claims she was a precocious little brat who read at the age of two but could hear much earlier than that.) She studied literature for far too many years before discovering that writing stories was much more fun than writing about them. One of her greatest pleasures as an author is being able to read the story before anyone else. Rue is happily married to her sweetheart of many, many years. Insatiably curious, an avid reader and traveler, she loves to hear from readers about their favorite books and real-life adventures. Crazy Cat stories are especially welcome. You can contact her at Rue@RueAllyn.com. She can’t wait to hear from you.
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