18 May Cathie Dunn The Shadows of Versailles Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery #Versailles #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub

FEATURED AUTHOR: CATHIE DUNN

It is my pleasure to feature Cathie Dunn as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held from May 10th – May 21st, 2021. Cathie Dunn is the author of the historical fiction/mystery novel, The Shadows of Versailles (An Affair of the Poisons Book One) was released by Ocelot Press on  November 20th, 2020 (ebook: 251 pages; print: 277 pages). 

Below are highlights of The Shadows of Versailles, Cathie Dunn’s author bio, and an excerpt from her book.

 

HIGHLIGHTS: THE SHADOWS OF VERSAILLES

 

The Shadows of Versailles

An Affair of the Poisons Book One

By Cathie Dunn

 

Dazzled by Versailles. Broken by tragedy. Consumed by revenge.

When Fleur de La Fontaine attends the court of King Louis XIV for the first time, she is soon besotted with handsome courtier, Philippe de Mortain. She dreams of married life away from her uncaring mother, but Philippe keeps a secret from her.

Nine months later, after the boy she has given birth to in a convent is whisked away, she flees to Paris where she mends gowns in the brothel of Madame Claudette, a woman who helps ‘fallen’ girls back on their feet.

Jacques de Montagnac investigates a spate of abducted children when his path crosses Fleur’s. He searches for her son, but the trail leads to a dead end – and a dreadful realisation.

Her boy’s suspected fate too much to bear, Fleur decides to avenge him. She visits the famous midwife, La Voisin, but it’s not the woman’s skills in childbirth that Fleur seeks.

La Voisin dabbles in poisons.

Will Fleur see her plan through? Or can she save herself from a tragic fate?

Delve into The Shadows of Versailles and enter the sinister world of potions, poisoners and black masses during the Affairs of the Poisons, a real event that stunned the court of the Sun King!

Buy Links:

Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  ♥  Amazon UK  ♥  Amazon US  ♥  Amazon CA  ♥  Amazon AU

AUTHOR BIO: CATHIE DUNN

Cathie Dunn writes historical fiction, mystery, and romance.

Cathie has been writing for over twenty years. She studied Creative Writing, with a focus on novel writing, which she now teaches in the south of France. She loves researching for her novels, delving into history books, and visiting castles and historic sites.

Her stories have garnered awards and praise from reviewers and readers for their authentic description of the past.

Cathie is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Alliance of Independent Authors.

After nearly two decades in Scotland, she now lives in the historic city of Carcassonne in the south of France with her husband, two cats and a rescue dog.

Social Media Links:

Website  ♥  Twitter  ♥  Facebook  ♥  Instagram  ♥  Pinterest  ♥  BookBub  ♥  Amazon Author Page   ♥  Goodreads 

EXCERPT FROM THE SHADOWS OF VERSAILLES

From Chapter Nine:

Early June, 1676

The Convent of the Carmelites, Paris

The walls of the convent towered in front of him when Jacques stopped outside the entrance. From the upper levels, two small, rectangular windows overlooked this side. It resembled a fortress more than a religious house. From the corner of his eye, he thought he spotted a shadow moving behind a window. Had the nuns seen him approach?

He tied the hired horse to a solid iron ring set into the stone and knocked on the door. Several moments passed before a young nun opened the grille.

“Yes?”

“Good day. I wish to speak to Sister Benedicte.”

“The sister does not receive visitors at this moment, monsieur.”

Had they seen him approach? The negative response had been too swift.

“I can wait.”

The nun inhaled sharply. “No, you can’t. I mean, she will not…” She looked around before whispering, “She won’t speak to you.”

Jacques grinned. “So she was watching my arrival? Ah.”

“I never said that.” Her eyes widened, and the sudden sharp tone in her voice showed her fear.

“I’m sure you didn’t, sister. I could always speak to the Mother Superior instead.”

Again, the nun shook her head. “Please leave, sir.”

“No.” He leaned against the stone frame. “I’m in no hurry.”

“You can’t stay there!”

“Why ever not?” He extended his arm in a sweeping gesture. “It’s a beautiful day. The sun is shining. Out here, the air is fresh. No, ’tis as I said, I can wait.”

“As you wish!” The nun shut the grille, leaving him standing in front of the closed door.

As he expected, moments later she returned and unlocked it.

“Please enter.” She stood aside as he walked into the entrance room. “But wait here! The Mother Superior will see you shortly.” She disappeared down a narrow corridor.

Jacques glanced around, but all was silent – except for a swishing sound coming from the cloisters. Intrigued, he stepped through the adjoining door. In a corner to his right, a woman, heavily pregnant, was sweeping the floor.

Should she be doing this in her advanced condition? But then, he remembered the many women in his quartier who undertook much harder chores than merely cleaning the floor, right up to the day they gave birth. A new respect had grown in him as he’d watched them. It was something that rarely occurred to men, especially those of a certain station. Perhaps women were indeed stronger than men, not physically, but in their minds? A thought that would no doubt outrage the learned professors.

But what he wanted to know whether this woman was one of those who came here to have their child, only to never see it again? Looking around, he saw no sign of any nuns. He coughed into his fist to alert her to his presence and approached her in swift strides.

She pivoted towards him. Her youth surprised him. She could barely be seventeen, if that.

“Good day, mademoiselle.”

“Oh, monsieur.” Her hand flew to her mouth.

The girl was too thin for one so heavy with child. A simple linen gown hung like a sack off her frame, stretching over the rounded belly. Her blonde hair was tied back in a tight braid, and the pretty face appeared tired. Only then did he realise that her eyes were red-rimmed, her eyelids puffed. She’d been crying.

“Please help me.”

His heart tugged at his conscience, and he clenched and unclenched his fists. “What can I do for you, mademoiselle?”

Her gaze flew across the cloisters before it settled on him with a beseeching look. “You must help me escape. Today.”

“Are you held here against your will?” Anger rose within him when she nodded. “You can accompany me to Paris if you wish.”

“Oh, thank you, monsieur.”

“Where would you want to go to?”

At that, she paused. Did she not have any family?

“I…I need to get away from here. I…” Her eyes widened as she stared behind him. Footsteps echoed around the stone walls. “No!” the girl screamed.

He spun around and looked straight into the barrel of a pistol Sister Benedicte aimed at him.

“Out!” the nun ordered, her cold eyes staring at him.

“No, let me go!” Two nuns who had appeared as if from out of nowhere dragged the girl away. “My child!”

He was about to follow her, to wrestle her from the sisters when the cold metal was pressed against the back of his head. “Don’t think I won’t pull the trigger. You’ve made a nuisance of yourself here for the last time, Montagnac. Now leave!”

“Not without this woman.”

“She’s of feeble mind and due to give birth any moment. See, her clothing is staining. ’Tis time. I have to attend to her.”

He cursed himself for not being armed, as they hauled the girl away. A trail of liquid was running down her skirt.

Hell! She’s giving birth.

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