The Duchess by Danielle Steel

 

I have a thing for historic romances. Those duchesses and queens with their enormous hats and gowns leading their royal life in the high society, I always had admired what every girl would in their young age about princesses. When I read the first three sample chapters from The Duchess on the Amazon page, it got me instantly excited. Those first few pages of the story created a strong bond within me as a reader to read more.

A young duchess, Angelique born to Phillip Latham and his second wife, is hated by her stepbrothers. Fondly raised by her father, Angelique is always close to her father Phillip and takes good care of him in his last days. When he suddenly dies, 18-year-old Angelique is thrown out of her home, the Belgrave castle, where she was born and brought up all these years. Oblivious of the world outside the castle, she works as a nanny in the house of a rich couple, far away from her hometown. Keeping her true identity as the Duchess of Hertfordshire under wraps, she endures the life of a nanny taking care of six children. Followed by false claims, bringing her disgrace, she is thrown out making her life miserable without a job. With no home, no job, and with only 25000 pounds her dad gave her as a gift, she travels to Paris in search of a new job. One night during her stay in Paris, she meets Fabienne, a young girl badly bruised and fighting for her life who is thrown out after being used up. Angelique befriends Fabienne and brings her to her hotel room to nurse her. After exchanging their backgrounds Angelique decides that starting a brothel house is the only way she could earn money in Paris, in her situation. With the help of Fabienne, she garners about eight girls from various backgrounds to work for her. She sets up a brothel house in such a way that all the elite people of Paris are her regular customers. One fine day, after earning a good amount in her business, she escapes to New York followed by a murder in her brothel house. On that three-week journey, she meets Andrew Carson whom she is falling in love with. When Andrew takes her to meet his dad, an unexpected twist awaits her threatening their marriage. With no support from his dad, he finally marries her and she gives birth to a son the very next year. When Andrew dies in an unfortunate incident, the story comes tumbling down to where it all started - Belgrave castle. What happens after Andrew's death is the fitting turn of events that could happen to her.

 

Throughout the book, it continued to be a page-turner. Around chapter 7, when she decides to set up a brothel house, I was totally disappointed with the turn the author is taking with the story. It could have been anything that she wanted to work in, but why a brothel house? Yet, I couldn’t put the book down. The constant inkling of 'what happens next?' kept me on with the book. With lots of twists and turns throughout the book, I was overly satisfied with the climax of the story. Angelique, finally got what she wanted. She went back to her rightful place from where she had been thrown out. It was such a satisfaction to know she is getting back home to where she once thought she would never get back to. I loved the way romance bloomed between Andrew and Angelique during their three-week journey from Paris to New York. Within a few pages, the author is able to cut short the story yet keep it amazing with the romantic feel intact.

The way her first brother Tristan and his family behave with her and her struggles of keeping her secret under wraps with Andrew was all such a treat. I got to know how a royal family of eighteenth-century works from inside out - from the number of servants a castle has, how spoilt a rich couple could be, there are multiple characters with a variety of lessons to learn from each of them.

From the start to finish, The Duchess is such a treat to readers. It all proliferates from a core theme - the British law. Back then, it allowed only the first son to inherit all the ancestral property while the other siblings got a meager amount for their living, that too when the heir, the first son, desires to provide them. It was only sons who were considered heir and daughters had no room at all. This law remained unchanged for a long time, creating lots of disputes among siblings showing a harsh disparity.

For such a lengthy span of this book, the story was cut short in some places and blown up in others, as and when needed in a clever way, yet keeping the pace and feel of the story intact. The characters were well differentiated with their traits naturally lingering in readers' minds for a long time. Angelique's secret and the way she is determined to go ahead with her life are amazing. Despite having trouble of all sorts, she comes out roaring yet being true to herself. I was so much worried when Andrew died putting Angelique alone in her life ahead, once more. Yet, as the story progressed that’s indeed the right move the author has made to get her back home.

Dear authors, this story is one such example of how a law can incite a great idea for your next story!

Happy reading and writing...

Tell me which instance/line incited a whole new story idea in you...