The Yankee Duchess

Anne Rossie hated the Civil War. Her brother had marched off to battle and had not come back. The Peace Democrats were trying to sabotage the war effort. New York could become a battleground. Anne responded by turning her back on events and concentrating on her university studies. Her father had quarelled with his powerful British family and had been forced to move to New York. He had made his fortune through several shrewd investments. One of these had been the purchase of America's only Analytical Engine. He hoped that every New York financier would pay him to use it. The United States Navy was trying to blockade the southern ports. They were losing ships and men in storms. A young naval officer travelled to New York to ask the university authorities whether they could use the Analytical Engine to predict storms. He was dismayed when they told him that Anne was their expert at writing algorithms for the Engine.In Bermuda, an aristocratic Royal Navy officer had purchased a fast steamship. He intended to use it to run the blockade. His ship was newer than anything in the US Navy. He was confident that he could run the blockade and make his fortune. He had a low opinion of Yankee merchant families. Unfortunately, Britain was neutral in the conflict. A British officer could not take part. He was forced to sail under an assumed name.Then Anne's grandfather died. The Rossie family's man of business crossed the Atlantic to tell Anne that she had a most unusual inheritance. Anne's new fortune allowed her to visit Bermuda. She encountered an enigmatic blockade runner, a scoundrel of the worst kind. Anne Rossie hated the Civil War. Her brother had marched off to battle and had not come back. The Peace Democrats were trying to sabotage the war effort. New York could become a battleground. Anne responded by turning her back on events and concentrating on her university studies. Her father had quarelled with his powerful British family and had been forced to move to New York. He had made his fortune through several shrewd investments. One of these had been the purchase of America's only Analytical Engine. He hoped that every New York financier would pay him to use it. The United States Navy was trying to blockade the southern ports. They were losing ships and men in storms. A young naval officer travelled to New York to ask the university authorities whether they could use the Analytical Engine to predict storms. He was dismayed when they told him that Anne was their expert at writing algorithms for the Engine.In Bermuda, an aristocratic Royal Navy officer had purchased a fast steamship. He intended to use it to run the blockade. His ship was newer than anything in the US Navy. He was confident that he could run the blockade and make his fortune. He had a low opinion of Yankee merchant families. Unfortunately, Britain was neutral in the conflict. A British officer could not take part. He was forced to sail under an assumed name.Then Anne's grandfather died. The Rossie family's man of business crossed the Atlantic to tell Anne that she had a most unusual inheritance. Anne's new fortune allowed her to visit Bermuda. She encountered an enigmatic blockade runner, a scoundrel of the worst kind.