American Duchess : A Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt

Before there was Meghan Markle; there was Consuelo Vanderbilt; the original American Duchess. Perfect for readers of Jennifer Robson and lovers of Downton Abbey.Karen Harper tells the tale of Consuelo Vanderbilt; her "The Wedding of the Century" to the Duke of Marlborough; and her quest to find meaning behind "the glitter and the gold."On a cold November day in 1895; a carriage approaches St Thomas Episcopal Church on New York City's Fifth Avenue. Massive crowds surge forward; awaiting their glimpse of heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt. Just 18; the beautiful bride has not only arrived late; but in tears; yet her marriage to the aloof Duke of Marlborough proceeds. Bullied into the wedding by her indomitable mother; Alva; Consuelo loves another. But a deal was made; trading some of the vast Vanderbilt wealth for a title and prestige; and Consuelo; bred to obey; realizes she must make the best of things. At Blenheim Palace; Consuelo is confronted with an overwhelming list of duties; including producing an "heir and a spare;" but her relationship with the duke quickly disintegrates. Consuelo finds an inner strength; charming everyone from debutantes to diplomats including Winston Churchill; as she fights for women's suffrage. And when she takes a scandalous leap; can she hope to attain love at last...?From the dawning of the opulent Gilded Age; to the battles of the Second World War; American Duchess is a riveting tale of one woman's quest to attain independence-at any price.