The history of the Danish West Indies, spanning from Columbus's encounter in 1493 to the formal transfer to the United States in 1917, is a tale of resilience, transformation, and cultural evolution. Initially named "Las Virgenes" by Columbus, the islands witnessed the establishment of Danish colonies in 1672, centered on the lucrative sugar trade and fueled by the inhumane transatlantic slave trade.
Emancipation in 1848 marked a progressive shift, leading to the importation of labor from diverse corners of the globe. The United States, eyeing strategic control, initiated acquisition attempts from 1867. The historical backdrop intensified during World War I, with the sinking of the Lusitania triggering U.S. concerns about German control of the islands. This fear catalyzed negotiations, resulting in the islands' formal transfer in 1917, marking the only U.S. territory purchased from another imperial power.
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Just when she's decided to leave the Town, Lady Cressida Belverst is forced to marry Lord Calan Haverston, the man who coincidentally knows a way out. Agreeing to marry for all the wrong reasons, can Cressida and Calan find out where their hearts truly belong?
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It is impossible to leave the Town, but one woman is determined to escape with the help of her betrothed.
Lady Cressida Belverst has always been judged as a walking scandal. Oh, how she tries (on some rare occasions) to be proper! When her parents arrange for her to marry a rich lord, Cressida has had enough. She has to leave the Town because she will not be forced to live with a man she doesn't love. But what happens if the very man she's betrothed to is the only one who can help her get out?
Calan Haverston, the Lord of Easton, takes the risk and helps his betrothed by using his knowledge of the Town's secrets because he is as willing as she to stay free of marriage for reasons completely different. He has dark secrets he cannot share with her, and his life is not one he can likewise open to anyone. But what happens when she leaves after awakening desires he thought he has under control? And what happens when he finds himself longing for her?
Cressida goes to a completely different place, one she has only heard in stories and read in books, with hopes of finding what her heart has always longed for. But love, mystery and secrets will chase her and it will only be a matter of time before she realizes what her heart truly desires.
*This story is a standalone title in the Haverston Family series.