An Island Princess Starts a Scandal

Manuela del Carmen Caceres Galvan arrives in Paris in 1889 intending to enjoy one last season of freedom before an unwanted marriage. Exhibiting her paintings offers an opening into a wider world, and Cora Kempf Bristol, the Duchess of Sundridge, offers access to the city's queer circles. Cora also wants a piece of land that Manuela controls. Their bargain gives each woman something she desires: a guide through Paris for Manuela and a chance at a valuable acquisition for Cora. But nights spent together make the arrangement increasingly personal. With obligation waiting beyond the summer, Manuela must consider whether the life she has been promised is one she is willing to accept.