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Back Her Heart for a Compass Save as PDF
Chapters (98)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Chapter One
  4. Chapter Two
  5. Illustrated London News, Saturday, 1 April 1865
  6. Chapter Three
  7. Chapter Four
  8. Chapter Five
  9. Chapter Six
  10. Chapter Seven
  11. Illustrated London News, Friday, 21 July 1865
  12. Princess Louise to Lady Margaret
  13. Lady Victoria to Lady Margaret
  14. Donald Cameron of Lochiel to Lady Margaret
  15. Princess Louise to Lady Margaret
  16. Chapter Eight
  17. Telegram from the Duke of Buccleuch to Lady Margaret
  18. The Morning Post, Saturday, 23 December 1865
  19. Chapter Nine
  20. Chapter Ten
  21. Chapter Eleven
  22. The Illustrated Times, Friday, 16 February 1866
  23. Chapter Twelve
  24. Chapter Thirteen
  25. Chapter Fourteen
  26. Chapter Fifteen
  27. Illustrated London News, Saturday, 21 April 1866
  28. Chapter Sixteen
  29. Princess Louise to Lady Margaret
  30. Chapter Seventeen
  31. Chapter Eighteen
  32. Chapter Nineteen
  33. Susannah Elmhirst to Lady Margaret
  34. The Morning Post, Thursday, 28 June 1866
  35. Chapter Twenty
  36. Chapter Twenty-One
  37. Charlotte, Duchess of Buccleuch, to Lady Margaret
  38. Chapter Twenty-Two
  39. Princess Louise to Lady Margaret
  40. Chapter Twenty-Three
  41. Susannah Elmhirst to Lady Margaret
  42. Lady Margaret to Susannah Elmhirst
  43. Chapter Twenty-Four
  44. Donald Cameron of Lochiel to Lady Margaret
  45. Lady Margaret to Donald Cameron of Lochiel
  46. Chapter Twenty-Five
  47. Lady Victoria Kerr to Lady Margaret
  48. Donald Cameron of Lochiel to Lady Margaret
  49. Lady Margaret to Donald Cameron of Lochiel
  50. Chapter Twenty-Six
  51. Susannah Elmhirst to Lady Margaret
  52. Donald Cameron of Lochiel to Lady Margaret
  53. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  54. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  55. Charlotte, Duchess of Buccleuch, to Lady Margaret
  56. Princess Louise to Lady Margaret
  57. The Illustrated Times, Friday, 20 December 1867
  58. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  59. Chapter Thirty
  60. New York Times, Tuesday, 7 January 1868
  61. New York Herald, Wednesday, 8 January 1868
  62. Chapter Thirty-One
  63. Chapter Thirty-Two
  64. New York Herald, Tuesday, 21 January 1868
  65. Chapter Thirty-Three
  66. Chapter Thirty-Four
  67. Demorest’s Monthly Magazine, April 1868
  68. Lady Margaret to Lady Victoria Kerr
  69. Lady Margaret to Julia, Viscountess Powerscourt
  70. Harper’s Bazar, Monday, 2 November 1868
  71. Chapter Thirty-Five
  72. Susannah Elmhirst to Lady Margaret
  73. Chapter Thirty-Six
  74. New York Herald, Thursday, 18 March 1869
  75. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  76. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  77. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  78. Charlotte, Duchess of Buccleuch, to Lady Margaret
  79. Julia, Viscountess Powerscourt, to Lady Margaret
  80. The Revolution, Wednesday, 20 April 1870
  81. Chapter Forty
  82. Chapter Forty-One
  83. Princess Louise to Lady Margaret
  84. Susannah Elmhirst to Lady Margaret
  85. New York Herald, Wednesday, 11 October 1871
  86. Chapter Forty-Two
  87. Demorest’s Monthly Magazine, March 1873
  88. Chapter Forty-Three
  89. Chapter Forty-Four
  90. The Scotsman, Friday, 10 December 1875
  91. Epilogue
  92. Author’s Note
  93. Historical Note
  94. P.S. Insights, Interviews & More . . .*
  95. About the Author
  96. About the Book
  97. Read On
  98. About the Publisher

“You should be delighted—it is the ultimate seal of approval. It means that you are fully restored to society’s good graces, M. Of course you will have to pay for it by wearing a dreadful gown because Helena has appalling taste in clothes as well as in bridegrooms. Have you seen a photograph of Prince Christian? He has many good qualities, I am sure, not least his being amenable to making Windsor his home, but he is hardly the handsomest of men. He is prematurely bald, for one thing.”

“Oh no, Lou,” Margaret said, suppressing a giggle, “it would be kinder to say that he has an extremely high forehead.”

“So high that it looks as if his hair has migrated south to his chin,” Louise quipped, adding, “Oh dear, it looks as if the queen is getting ready to leave.”

“Already!” Margaret jumped to her feet. “Lenchen’s wedding is more than two months away. Surely I will see you before that.”

“I will do my best, but you know what my mother is like. Once she is installed in Osborne she has to be prised out like a winkle. When my sister’s wedding is out of the way, you would be well advised to start preparing yourself for your own.”

“Don’t say that. Killin has not yet renewed his suit.”

“Not yet.” Louise drew her into a rare, brief embrace. “But provided you continue to behave yourself, he undoubtedly will.”

Illustrated London News, Saturday, 21 April 1866

Illustrated London News, Saturday, 21 April 1866

A SECOND CHANCE FOR A SECOND-SEASON DEB

A ball was held last Saturday hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch at their Westminster residence to mark the reopening of Parliament after the Easter recess. Though it was one of several society events held on that particular evening, it was noted that the ballroom of Montagu House was packed to capacity. Such is the prestige of the Buccleuch name, it would be easier to name the illustrious members of the Ton who did not attend. Alas, though we have it on excellent authority that Their Royal Highnesses Princess Helena and Princess Louise were invited, both remain at Her Majesty the queen’s side at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.