posted
When Corey goes to Newport to photograph Spences's niece's wedding she stays in the "Duchess Suite" It is named that because the original owner of the house had a daughter who became the duchess of Claymore. What is that about? I don't remember anything in W,ML about Whitney's father owning property in America. Can someone refresh my memory, or could this perhaps be a tidbit of things to come, like maybe Clayton's son marrying a girl from America?
I think I brought up this point in another post not to long ago. I don't think it was ever addressed or explained. I think she just threw it in. I wished there would have been more of an explanation as to who she meant, too.
posted
I poked around doing a search to see if I could find something more specific from Judith herself, but I couldn't. Barb, I think you hit it on the money when you said she just threw it in there. I've discovered over the years that we readers pay way more attention to the little details like that than Judith does sometimes, so I'd bet that she used it as something we'd think was interesting, but that she didn't really have any particular character or character relationship in mind when she did it. Erm...not that I'm a mind reader or anything so I can't say 100%! LOL
Shannon
Posts: 7595 | From: God only knows | Registered: Apr 2000
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posted
Shell, It was quite common for wealthy American females to marry impoverished members of British aristocracy during Newport's heyday, the Gilded Age (1890s). So I've always thought that JM was basing the room in Spencer's house on a bedroom that can be found in this Newport Mansion - Marble House.
Marble House was one of the Vanderbilt homes and the daughter of the house, Consuelo, married the Duke of Marlborough. Her bedroom in Marble House is to this day still referred to as the Duchess' bedroom.
So we can assume that a descendant of Clayton's went over to American @1890 and found himself a wealthy American heiress. Wouldn't you like to read that story!?!
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Gretchen, Oh yes, definitely. It will have to be Clayton's son so Whitney and Clayton can still be in it.
Posts: 256 | Registered: Jun 2003
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I was just poking around and came across this post. I admit it's very unlike me to resurrect a post from this long ago, but I just couldn't resist.
I remember when we went to JM's house in Houston and saw the apartment in one wing of the house. It had it's own outside access and was soooo cute. I could have sworn JM told us this was the "Duchess Suite". Please correct me if I'm wrong Judith.
To answer your question G
quote:Wouldn't you like to read that story!?!
No, I don't think I would like that story because it might imply that this duke of claymore took all the wealth that my beloved Royce fought to achieve with his blood and sweat and the money that Clayton increased enormously and he squandered it away. Shame on him. Our ancestors had better have better sense than that instilled in them.
Kiss, kiss, Jennie
PS I have never hidden the fact from Judith that I would loooooooooooove to see a modern day Duke of Claymore story, but now I'd put a caveat on that stating I do NOT want to see him impoverished. *sigh* Oh to just have Royce mentioned again. *swoon* lol
-------------------- "We can't all come and go by bubble." Elphaba from Wicked. Posts: 5690 | From: Claymore with my beloved Royce | Registered: Apr 2000
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I'm glad you brought this post up because on a recent reread of Double Exposure I was wondering the same thing. Thanks for sharing the personal touch about Judith having a Duchess room herself. How wonderful it would have been for me to know about this board back then and get to experience it with you.
What about this as a storyline: maybe Sherry's father went back to the US, became extremely wealthy, bulit the house and then the room for her? Although this reason won't give us another story.
-------------------- miKi
"So many books. So little time." Oscar the Grouch Posts: 450 | Registered: Jun 2006
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miKi, sounds good, but Sherry isn't a duchess, she was married to Stephen, who is an earl.
How about this: the future Duke of Claymore was visiting America and fell in love with a nice American girl and married her...that sounds like a Westmoreland, don't you think? Finding the one he loves, marrying her just because he wants her above all else, and damn what everyone else thinks.
-------------------- Early to bed and early to rise Precludes you from seeing the most brilliant starry nights
Diversity is Life's greatest ally. Posts: 3934 | From: Lindworthy Ball, pissing off Jordan | Registered: Nov 2005
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Linka thanks for your story. Much better than mine.
For some reason I thought that Stephen was going to be inheriting some ducal title from somewhere and didn't have it yet but was going to be in succession, not for the Westmoreland but for another one.
-------------------- miKi
"So many books. So little time." Oscar the Grouch Posts: 450 | Registered: Jun 2006
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miKi, it's understandable, Stephen did inherit a title through special dispensation at the end of extended edition WML, but it was an earldom not a dukedom. Poor Stephen, never got to be a duke, and as he's always telling his brother, it's all Clayton's fault for being born first, lol.
-------------------- Early to bed and early to rise Precludes you from seeing the most brilliant starry nights
Diversity is Life's greatest ally. Posts: 3934 | From: Lindworthy Ball, pissing off Jordan | Registered: Nov 2005
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I think I'm going with Linka's story unless there is an official story from JM Posts: 272 | From: Tennesee | Registered: May 2006
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Ask me this in a few days. I haven't time to answer it right now, but I will.
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-------------------- People need dreams, there's as much nourishment in 'em as food. Posts: 285 | From: Cincinnati,OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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-------------------- People need dreams, there's as much nourishment in 'em as food. Posts: 285 | From: Cincinnati,OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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Bumping also, because I would Love to hear Judith's answer
Imagine..another Westmoreland..sigh
-------------------- Sophie~The Invisible Girl ;)
Making a decision to have a child--it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. - Elizabeth Stone Posts: 1415 | From: Enjoying the party!! | Registered: Mar 2004
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Ohh, I too can't wait to hear Judith's answer...I too, love the idea of a modern story of the Duke of Claymore.
-------------------- ~*~ : Milani : ~*~ Posts: 2948 | From: - Having Fun In The Cabana with Stuart...Do Not Disturb!! - | Registered: Jan 2006
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-------------------- We lay in bed and watched the sun come up though we could hardly hold our eyes open, because neither of us wanted to miss out on a minute of being together. --Mitchell Wyatt Posts: 1930 | From: In Rome's Piazza Navona with Mitchell | Registered: Jan 2003
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