Secrets of a Duchess
Chapter One
London, England
May 1865
Lord and Lady Maxwell's ballroom was decorated
with colorful garlands of fresh flowers perfuming the
air and countless flickering candles lighting the
room. Long oak tables, draped with the finest linen
cloths trimmed in Belgian lace, were laden with shining
sterling silver platters piled with delicacies and
refreshments of all sorts and sparkling Irish crystal
champagne flutes arranged artfully along the side,
ready for toasting. A myriad of obliging servants
were there to accommodate the slightest need of the
hundreds of invited guests, the crème de la crème of
London society, arriving in their most formal attire.
The full orchestra, hidden behind a delicate Chinese
screen, played melodiously at the end of the room
near the dance floor. The steady buzz of voices in animated
conversation was punctuated with bursts of
merry laughter echoing through the elegant crowd
of young debutantes, hopeful parents, eligible bachelors,
social climbers, and society matrons. For the
first grand ball of the Season, a general feeling of
excitemen ... read full excerpt from: Secrets of a Duchess ebook
