She sighed heavily, interrupting him. “Cannot you think of anything we might do in the present moment, my lord?”
A slow, deep smile started at the corners of his mouth which made a woman shiver to behold, revealing his thoughts were very much in the present.
“Indeed I can.” As he lowered his lips to hers he murmured, “Give me time, Lady Ravensdale. You loved me into being, but my life is, as yet, an unfinished dream.”
“Oh, no, Val. You are a dream come true,” she whispered. “My dream come true.”
THE END
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Also by Suzette Hollingsworth
“The Great Detective in Love” historical mystery:
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Sword Princess
Sherlock Holmes and the Dance of the Tiger
Sherlock Holmes and the Chocolate Menace
Sherlock Holmes and the Vampire Invasion
To be released in 2018-19:
“Daughters of the Empire” historical romance:
THE SERENADE: The Prince and the Siren
THE RESISTANCE: The Contessa and the Shadow Knight
“The Great Detective in Love” historical mystery:
Sherlock Holmes and the Confirmed Bachelor
By award-winning author Clint Hollingsworth on Amazon
(Wilderness Thrillers, Sci Fi Space Opera)
The Sage Wind Blows Cold
Death in the High Lonesome
The Deep Blue Crush
The Road Sharks
“Starting from Scratch” comic about a couple of starving artists who are forced to live on their parents’ land in a trailer they bought on eBay (co-written by Suzette & Clint Hollingsworth, drawn by Clint Hollingsworth). This comic is more biographical than one might suppose.
Author’s Notes
This is a work of historical fiction, meaning that some of the settings and characters are based on actual historical fact and that some of the characters and settings, as well as the plot, are fictional but possible given the right set of circumstances. In the best of worlds one wishes to time travel through books.
The way I work is to search for something in history which fits my idea. It has astonished me time and again to find that the extraordinary people and events of my imagination often existed in a similar form. Many of my characters are fictitious and embrace the idea of "what could be", but are often inspired by the amazing qualities and activities of real people.
A book is so much more interesting to me to know that, in history, real people have done incredible things and overcome enormous obstacles. I incorporate as much actual history as the fiction allows. I want to create characters who could have lived in that time period—who may have lived in that time period. This leaves you, the reader, to wonder where the division between fact and fiction lies.
I want to create characters who are not carbon copies of our culture's mindset but who stretch our view. Wade Davis, a noted anthropologist and ethnobotanist, wrote "Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you: they are unique manifestations of the human spirit." Among Davis' many books are The Serpent and the Rainbow (about the process of zombification in Haiti,1986), Passage of Darkness (1988), One River (1996), and Shadows in the Sun (1998).
Although I personally enjoyed every research book I read, books which I found especially fascinating reading and would highly recommend as "stand-alone" books are Daughters of Brittania: The Lives and Times of Diplomatic Wives by Katie Hickman and Marching to the Drums, a first-hand account of British wars, edited by Ian Knight.
The description of Cairo is written by Susan J. Bartroff, friend, excellent writer and editor.
My husband Clint’s favorite artist is Hal Foster, who drew and wrote the comic strip “Prince Valiant” (as well as Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan) each page a beautiful work of detailed art. Foster’s work is stunning. Prince Valiant and his love Alita are honored here in “The Destiny Code”.
Presentation at Court:
"Queen Victoria hated small feathers and the Lord Chamberlain issued orders that Her Majesty wanted to see the feathers as the girl approached. . . . Well, this curtsy was no slight dip of the knees. It was a full court curtsy where the woman had to bend her knee almost to the floor, hold it while making a low bow and then stand up again being sure not to trip over her gown, stumble over her train, or drop her flowers or fan. Also she was probably praying that the feathers in her headdress wouldn't fall out. Then after the curtsy, the young woman had to back out (still trying not to trip) because you do not turn your back on the monarch."
http://www.likesbooks.com/court.html by Ellen Micheletti
"Queen Victoria's court has never been amusing." "Since the sale of Almack's, the sparkle is to be found surrounding the Prince Edward and the Marlborough House Set—and at the private parties of political hostesses." –Gilded Butterflies, p. 124 by Philippa Pullar, Hamish Hamilton Ltd., 1978, ISBN 0-241-89965-6
"The patronesses of Almack's could, and did, arbitrarily decide the social acceptability of anyone desiring admittance into Almack's—and, by extension, into London society's highest circles." (www.britainexpress.com)
"On a typical day in the season, families would rise early to go riding in Hyde Park. Ladies trained throughout their girlhood to become experts in mounting, riding gracefully while still in command of the horse, shaking hands with friends from the saddle, and dismounting. They also learned to control their horse so as to avoid accidents in crowds. After riding came breakfast. Ladies then went shopping or took care of household chores like paying bills. They would only make morning calls on those they knew extremely well. A well-bred person never called on casual acquaintances in the morning. After lunch, men would go to Parliament or the club. Ladies paid more calls, thus filling the hours between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. Calls did not exceed 1/2 hour in length, and from 10 to 20 minutes was considered adequate. If others arrived while paying a call, the first caller would politely leave. Dinner was at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m., followed by a soiree or opera. Balls and dances started at 10 p.m. and went as late as 3 a.m. The ensemble played an equal number of waltzes and quadrilles, with one or two other dances. Programmes listed the schedule of dances. Balls normally opened with a waltz, followed by a quadrille. Gentleman could be introduced to ladies at a ball solely for the purpose of dancing, but could not presume to further the acquaintance afterward. London became a virtual marriage market during the season. Never were so many people in so small a place looking for a spouse, and all within a few month's time. Girls had to be presented to the Queen before being able to enter society. She had to be presented by a lady of higher rank, whether family member or friend. A young lady was not considered approved for the marriage market until she was presented at court. All titled ladies were eligible to be presented to the Queen, along with the wives and daughters of these professions: clergy, military and naval officers, physicians and barristers, (which were considered aristocratic professions,) but not the wives or daughters of General Practitioners or solicitors. Once presented, a prospective bride could reasonably attend 50 balls, 60 parties, 30 dinners and 25 breakfasts all in one season. If she didn't marry within two or three seasons, she was considered a failure, and at 30 a hopeless s
pinster."
--"The London Season" by Michelle Jean Hoppe, http://www.literary-liaisons.com/article024.html.
Never think that people are the same today as they always were. The cultural idea of a desirable female has changed. A brief review of twitter, facebook and popular television shows reveals that politeness, courtesy, and kindness is out of style today.
"A lady should be quiet in her manners, natural and unassuming in her language, careful to wound no one’s feelings, but giving generously and freely from the treasures of her pure mind to her friends. Scorning no one openly, she should feel gentle pity for the unfortunate, the inferior and the ignorant, at the same time carrying herself with an innocence and single heartedness which disarms ill nature, and wins respect and love from all." http://www.victorianstation.com/ettiqlady.htm
The Marrying Age
Alita feels that she is a full year beyond marrying age. Legally, girls could be married as young as 13. Although most upper class girls married 18-20 years of age in practice, I do gather there was a very slim margin of opportunity and that there was a definite stigma around age (perhaps because people were not as long-lived as they are today). The 1851 census showed that there were nearly 1.5 million “spinsters” which was defined as being between 20-40. i.e., a 20-year-old was considered a “spinster” in the official census!
British wars of the 19th century (over forty in one century alone):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_British_Army_1800%E2%80%9399
The first Afghan War, a British invasion of Afghanistan, was 1839-1840. The second Afghan War was 1878-1880.
"The appetite for tales of military adventure overseas was almost inexhaustible. On every occasion of receiving news of some gallant stand at an exotic and unpronounceable spot on the very fringes of empire…swell with pride." Marching to the Drums edited by Ian Knight, 1999 Greenshill Books, Lionel Leventhal Limited, 1 Russell Gardens, Park House, London NW11 9NN, www.greenhillbooks.com. This is a wonderful read, I was mesmerized by these first-hand accounts.
The letter to the fictional Kristine Tutt extracts the main elements of the real Private Robert Tutt's eyewitness account of the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir August 25, 1882 in a collection of eyewitness accounts to war, Marching to the Drums edited by Ian Knight. Although these are Robert Tutt's words (with some omissions, the full letter is not represented here), the sister, Kristine, is a fictitious character.
Actual words follow: (there really WAS a white-clad Egyptian, as described at this battle) who did attack the real Robert Tutt:
I looked up, and saw against the sky a white-clad Egyptian with a short, brass-hilted sword. He must have been a bugler, for he had a bugle handing from his shoulder. He was bending down, with the weapon ready for a cut or thrust. He was about four feet above me, fighting downward, and slashing at me savagely.
"If not for British interference, the Mahdi would now be in charge." It is a fact that Great Britain's take-over of Egypt ignited a revolution by fundamentalist Muslim forces in the Sudan on the upper Nile River under the leadership of Urabi, a man known as the Mahdi. It is also a fact that the Mahdi was the people's choice as the ruler of Egypt.
Sir Evelyn Baring, Lord Cromer, is an historical figure:
"He was Egypt’s shadow pharaoh, with a deceptive title (British Consul) and unbounded authority, who brought a banker’s icy discipline and fiscal thrift to an insolvent country, anticipating the policies of the World Bank and IMF. Yet after his reign of twenty-four years, Egypt remained mostly poor, and mysteriously (to Britons) ungrateful. Baring financed the building of the first Aswan Dam, the precursor of the many giant projects to come (including the second Aswan Dam). He is remembered, too, as the offstage eminence who failed to save General Gordon at Khartoum. In an epic sequel, Baring avenged his death and turned the rebellious, Islamist Sudan into an Anglo-Egyptian vassal."
--“Lord Cromer: Victorian Imperialist, Edwardian Proconsul” by Roger Owen
"In India, I learned the importance of low taxation, sympathy with the peasant population, keeping just in advance of public opinion, and listening carefully to the uncensored views amongst the general population." Sir Evelyn Baring, Lord Cromer, “Cromer's Egypt”, by Roger Owen, New York: Oxford University Press, 2004
"Peace, prosperity, stability."
"Bring Egypt into the nineteenth century. Manage the country's finances so that it can meet its debt obligations. Insure the continued operation of the Suez Canal which is critical to national security and British commerce." --Sir Evelyn Baring, Lord Cromer, “Cromer's Egypt”, by Roger Owen
"I am a simple magistrate". --Sir Evelyn Baring, Lord Cromer, “Cromer's Egypt”, by Roger Owen
The new Consulate building (actually completed 1894):
The Honorable Hesham Moustafa Khalil (NDP), deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Culture, Tourism and Media Committee reachable at: [email protected], has a website from which I derived much of the description of the building,
Mr. Khalil has as gift for turning a phrase:
"Garden City was the work of an Art-nouveau dabbler who preferred compasses to rulers hence the absence of straight lines. Three times out of four you end up where you started. Even as one traveled down a single road it erratically changed names at vague intervals."
"Equally perplexing for anyone without a sense of whimsy, Lamba chose a giant fish as the centerpiece for his Neptunian maze."
I love that phrase!
Egyptian history is fascinating, even in the 19th century and into the 20th.
"A form of financial imperialism which utilizes loans of questionable value to gain an interest in local affairs, followed by a subsequent default as justification for invasion to protect 'European interests'." Egypt and Europe in the 19th Century by Jim Jones, 2003, Westchester University, http//courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his312/lectures/egypt.htm.
"In 1854, Muhammad Said, the khedive (governor) of Egypt (1854-1863), gave a French company the right to build a canal across Suez. Muhammad Said gave the company a ninety-nine year charter (lease) to run the canal. After stock was sold, Said owned just less than half of the company. France owned most of the rest. The canal was finished a decade later in August 1869. The khedive had spent huge amounts of money building the canal. He had also spent money on many extravagant projects and on high living. Egypt's debt ballooned from 7 million British pounds to nearly 100 million pounds in thirteen years. The British seized the khedive's stock in 1879 to pay the interest on his debt. France remained the largest shareholder in the Suez Canal Company. Egypt was now out and Britain was in as the second largest shareholder." The Suez Crisis by James W. Fiscus, The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2004, 29 East 21st St., New York NY 10010
"The Egyptian people were free, but starving under King Ismail. The beating for the year's taxes was terrible, and every day a new tax. People could no longer eat bread; they were living on barley meal mixed with water, and raw green stuff." The Suez Canal by Gail B. Stewart, Lucent Books, Inc. 2001, P.O. Box 289011, San Diego, CA 92198-9011
"The British occupancy will last something over sixty years. A great leader, an Egyptian, will rise up out of the peasantry and claim back the country for Egyptians."
Alita is referring to Gamal Abdel Nasser, on July 26, 1956, who executed an ingenious plan which returned the Suez Canal and Egypt to Egyptian control with a non-violent coup. Nasser returned Egypt to her people without a single act of aggression. Astonishing. "The result will be a social, political, and economic transformation of Egypt in an amazing act of statesmanship." Nasser was a President of the Republic of Egypt 1954-1970 and was succeeded by Anwar Sadat (1970-1981). It is also true that not being under imperial rule changed the way Egyptians viewed themselves and the world. The Cairo Documents, by Mohamed Heikal.
The movie NASSAR 56 is enjoyable and informative. Amazon review: "In 1956, Egypt's president, General Gamal Abdel Nasser, made a incredibly bold move, defying the Western powers, by claiming the Suez Canal for Egypt. Th
e canal had been in the hands of the British, who had signed a 100-year lease, yet Egypt gained almost nothing from the deal. In fact, over 120,000 Egyptian men (out of a population of only 4 million) died in the creation of the canal, and Egypt garnered a large debt. When the World Bank and Western powers refused to finance Nasser's high dam—the Aswan dam—Nasser decided the only way to gain the revenue was to nationalize the canal. Director Mohamed Fadel has re-created this tumultuous time in Egyptian history in his moving tale Nasser 56. Ahmad Zaki stars as Nasser, and he portrays the man in subdued tones, making him accessible to a world audience."
The four-stroke piston engine, represented as being invented by Dr. Jonathan Stanton was actually invented by Hippolyte Pixii, a Frenchman.
John Stuart Mill, a strong advocate of women's rights, was arrested in 1824, elected to Parliament in 1865.
In actuality, the party would have had to leave for the pyramids very early in the morning.
"Before the advent of organized mass tourism in the last third of the nineteenth century travelers to Giza hired guides and transportation locally. The most important person for them was the turgoman (derived from the Arabic root tarjama—to translate), who functioned as a tour-guide, organizer, translator and broker with local connections. Baron de Kusel, an Englishman who lived in Egypt from 1863 to 1887, recounts his trip to the pyramids in 1864 as a day trip "involving a considerable amount of physical discomfort." Boats to cross the Nile from Cairo to Giza, and donkeys for the ride in Giza to the pyramids had to be arranged beforehand as the group was to start their excursion by four o'clock in the morning. About the trip on the Giza side he reports: There was no road to the Pyramids, only a narrow track, and along this our donkeys trotted at a very slow rate, except when prodded with a long stick carried by the Arab boy who ran behind each one of us, then their pace would increase slightly; but when the boys gave a certain yell they fairly galloped, and I am afraid all of us had two or three spills. We reached the Pyramids at last, and I for one was awe-stricken; they were so stupendous and full of mystery, and I realized then, that no account could ever make people understand the wonder of them.... The return trip was delightful, as the heat of the day had to a large extent gone, it being very nearly sunset. That trip took us just over fourteen hours. [Baron de Kusel 1915:43]
The Destiny Code: The Soldier and the Mystic Page 45