Once a Duchess by Elizabeth Boyce

Cut off. Alexander had finally done it. She’d wondered, with her pittance of an allowance coming later and later every quarter, whether this was where it was headed. She scanned the letter again, searching for any sign of filial affection. There was none. Rather, she detected anger behind his words. Her present situation could only refer to her being divorced. If he truly felt no obligation to support his divorced sister, why had it taken him nearly three years to say so?

Posted for The Friday 56, which is hosted by Freda's Voice

Once a Duchess by Elizabeth Boyce

Duchess Isabelle Fairfax is wrongfully accused of infidelity by her particularly awful mother-in-law and ceremoniously divorced then cut off without a penny by both her former husband, Duke of Monthwaite and by her own brother. But she is not one to give up and works as a cook in inn in a remote village. Marshal Lockwood, the Duke stops at that inn and finds her working there. Marshal is surprised to know that his ex-wife is a wonderful cook. He starts having serious doubts about her infidelity as he had expected her to be living comfortably with that other person. He writes to Isabelle’s brother and encourages him to take his sister back. Her brother decides that the solution to everyone’s problems is to get Isabelle married off as soon as possible. Isabelle has no other option and agrees.

Isabelle and Marshal have been manipulated by his mother. Marshal realizes it and makes it all right. He publicly apologises for divorcing her wrongfully. They discover they have still something going between them and try to right the wrongs done to them. 

Elizabeth Boyce has covered a difficult subject of divorce in the 19th century. The story may have some misgivings but the topic covered was very relevant of that period.