A tempest of discovery, p.1
A Tempest of Discovery, page 1
A Tempest of Discovery
Midnight Dynasty Book 1
Sarah M. Cradit
Copyright © 2018 Sarah M. Cradit
All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, at “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design by Sarah M. Cradit
Editing by Lawrence Editing
Garden District Map Design by Raven Quinn
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First Edition
ISBN: 9798515054410
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Publisher Contact:
sarah@sarahmcradit.com
www.sarahmcradit.com
Contents
Preface
Also by Sarah M. Cradit
Notable Names & Locations
Garden District Map
Family Trees
Deschanel Family Tree
Fontenot Family Tree
Laviolette Family Tree
Sullivan Family Tree
Weatherly Family Tree
Henry Family Tree
New Orleans, Louisiana
1. Nicolas
2. Charlotte
3. Lauren
4. Julian
5. Nicolas
6. Lauren
7. Charlotte
8. Nicolas
9. Julian
10. Lauren
11. Charlotte
12. Lauren
13. Nicolas
14. Julian
15. Nicolas
16. Charlotte
17. Julian
18. Lauren
19. Charlotte
20. Nicolas
21. Julian
22. Lauren
23. Charlotte
24. Nicolas
25. Charlotte
26. Julian
27. Lauren
28. Charlotte
Also by Sarah M. Cradit
About the Author
Preface
Fans of The House of Crimson & Clover series will recognize many familiar faces in Midnight Dynasty, and this series might feel like easing back into an old, favorite pair of slippers. Those new to the series won’t miss a beat, for these stories are brand-new and all their own.
Those who are new to the world of Crimson & Clover, and enjoyed this story—or the characters within, like the ageless antihero, Nicolas—may also like to go back and read The House of Crimson & Clover. The long and sometimes challenging evolution of Nicolas is detailed across those twelve novels. But that journey is not necessary to appreciate where he’s come, and where he will go next. The history of where the Deschanels and their sprawling relatives get their gifts is also covered in that series, should you ever find yourself curious about their origins.
A Tempest of Discovery is split between two locales: New Orleans and Paris, two cities with a rich, intermingled history. New Orleans I’ve been to many times over the years, both in pursuit of research for my stories but also because my heart beats its hardest and fastest there. I’ve only been to Paris once, but my memories of that trip were fresh in my mind when I lifted the pen—or fingers to keys—for the first time in this story. All descriptions are my own, just as all errors are my own.
This series, as with all Crimson & Clover books, was born of my combined love of family lore, witches, and a good mystery.
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Happy Reading,
Sarah
Also by Sarah M. Cradit
KINGDOM OF THE WHITE SEA
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Kingdom of the White Sea Trilogy
The Kingless Crown
The Broken Realm
The Hidden Kingdom
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The Book of All Things
The Raven and the Rush
The Sylvan and the Sand
The Artist and the Assassin
The Melody and the Magi
The Claw and the Crowned
THE SAGA OF CRIMSON & CLOVER
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The House of Crimson and Clover Series
The Storm and the Darkness
Shattered
The Illusions of Eventide
Bound
Midnight Dynasty
Asunder
Empire of Shadows
Myths of Midwinter
The Hinterland Veil
The Secrets Amongst the Cypress
Within the Garden of Twilight
House of Dusk, House of Dawn
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Midnight Dynasty Series
A Tempest of Discovery
A Storm of Revelations
A Torrent of Deceit
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The Seven Series
1970
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1980
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Vampires of the Merovingi Series
The Island
and more
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The Dusk Trilogy
St. Charles at Dusk: The Story of Oz and Adrienne
Flourish: The Story of Anne Fontaine
Banshee: The Story of Giselle Deschanel
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Crimson & Clover Stories
Surrender: The Story of Oz and Ana
Shame: The Story of Jonathan St. Andrews
Fire & Ice: The Story of Remy & Fleur
Dark Blessing: The Landry Triplets
Pandora's Box: The Story of Jasper & Pandora
The Menagerie: Oriana’s Den of Iniquities
A Band of Heather: The Story of Colleen and Noah
The Ephemeral: The Story of Autumn & Gabriel
Bayou’s Edge: The Landry Triplets
For more information, and exciting bonus material, visit www.sarahmcradit.com
Notable Names & Locations
DESCHANEL FAMILY
The Deschanel (pronounced Day-shah-nell) family are the line of heirs of the great Charles Deschanel of France, who settled the Deschanel dynasty in Louisiana in 1844. All current day descendants of the original Charles are either of the line of August or Blanche. Deschanels are of the line of August, and all others (Fontenots, Broussards, Guidrys, etc.) come from Blanche. August had seven children: Charles, Augustus, Colleen, Madeline, Evangeline, Maureen, and Elizabeth. Only Augustus, Colleen, Evangeline, and Maureen survive today.
The present-day Charles had six children. Nicolas, from Charles’ legitimate marriage to Cordelia. Nathalie, Giselle, Lucienne, and Adrienne, from his affair with Lisette Duchene. And finally, Anne, another daughter of an illicit affair, with Angelique Fontaine.
The rights of inheritance of the Deschanels follow the tradition of the eldest son, so Nicolas, son of the late Charles, grandson of August, is the current heir. Nicolas is childless, and if he does not choose an heir, the distinction passes to his uncle, Augustus, and then through his line.
Charles (d.) & Cordelia Deschanel (d.)
Nicolas
& Lisette Duchene (d.)
Nathalie (d.)
Giselle (d.)
Lucienne (d.)
Adrienne (d.) m. Oz Sullivan (issue: Christian)*
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*Adrienne had one child by her husband Oz Sullivan, Christian. She adopted his daughter from a prior marriage, Naomi.
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& Angelique Fontaine (d.)
Anne m. Jonathan St. Andrews
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Colleen Deschanel & Noah Jameson
Amelia m. Jacob Donnelly (issue: Moira)
Benjamin (d.)
Ashley*
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*Ashley was married to Christine, and they had three children. After their daughter, Katey, tragically passed, Christine ran off with the other children, and they are currently presumed to be deceased as well.
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Augustus & Ekatherina Deschanel (d.)
Anasofiya m. Finn St. Andrews (issue: Aleksandr)
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Augustus is currently married to Barbara, and they have no children.
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Other Siblings of Charles, Augustus, & Colleen
Madeline (d.)
Evangeline
Maureen
Elizabeth (d.)
FONTENOT FAMILY
The Fontenot family (pronounced Fon-tuh-no), are cousins of the Deschanel family, equal in wealth and prestige. Where the Deschanels are descendants of the line of August, the Fontenots are descendants of the line of Blanche. Luther, Llewellyn, and Lowell are brothers, the sons of Eugenia and Wallace Fontenot, and grandsons of Blanche and Claudius Broussard.
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Luther & Josephine Fontenot
Fleur & Remy (twins)
Theodore
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Llewellyn & Sophie Fontenot
Charlotte
Annette (d.)
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Lowell & Julia Fontenot
Julian
Courtney
Noelle
&n
The Weatherly family is considered “new money” by New Orleans standards, currently on the third generation of their esteemed Weatherly Department Store business. Daniel Weatherly Sr. established the upscale company in the 1950s, and upon his death, control passed to his son, Daniel Jr., who in turn has selected his eldest daughter, Cassidy, to be his eventual successor. His second daughter, Lauren, has shown no interest in being involved in the family business, and instead pursued a career as a lawyer, working at Sullivan & Associates. She is currently on indefinite assignment with the firm’s biggest client, the Deschanels.
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Daniel & Mary Weatherly (d.)
Cassidy m. Cameron Sullivan (issue: Ainsley, Willow)
Lauren
LAVIOLETTE FAMILY
The LaViolettes are a wealthy, mysterious, matriarchically-led family with business in most of the industries that keep New Orleans afloat. They are cousins of the Deschanels, stemming back to their origins in France, but no kinship exists between the branches. The current head of the family is Harlowe LaViolette, a formidable woman known for her disinclination to abide enemies. The LaViolettes have representation in politics, law enforcement, and the justice system, and for these reasons are believed to be untouchable. All men who marry into the LaViolette family take the surname of their wives.
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Harlow & Percy LaViolette
Adrien
Armand
Anessa
HENRY FAMILY
Archibald Henry is the founder of the Henry Investment Group, a firm representing high-profile clients in New Orleans. Their investments have come under scrutiny due to the extensive nature of tax shelters and pass-through businesses used to assist their clients in moving their money around. Archibald’s only son, Lawrence, does not have the same nose or passion for the business, and his involvement is limited to his work with The Henry Fund, a non-profit charity for families displaced by natural disasters.
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Archibald & Henrietta Henry
Lawrence
Gabrielle
DESCHANEL MAGI COLLECTIVE COUNCIL
The Deschanel Magi Collective Council is the governing body over the Deschanel Magi Collective. There are nine council members, to preserve a voting majority. The Council discusses matters before taking them to the broader Collective.
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Sacred vows: "In power, obligation. In obligation, commitment. In commitment, solidarity. In solidarity, enlightenment. And the Council also lives under governance, through enlightenment."
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Council Members
Colleen Deschanel (Magistrate)
Luther Fontenot
Jasper Broussard
Evangeline Deschanel-Gehring
Pansy Guidry
Nicolas Deschanel
Imogen Broussard
Chelsea Sullivan-Landry
Connor Sullivan
SULLIVAN & ASSOCIATES
Sullivan & Associates is a family-owned law firm, and one of the oldest and most trusted in New Orleans, founded in 1839 by Aidan Sullivan. Comprised mostly of Sullivans, the firm is considered something of a birthright for any Sullivan looking to go into law. The handful of non-Sullivans working there have had to work hard to prove themselves. Lauren Weatherly is one such attorney.
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Notable Sullivan & Associates Attorneys
Lauren Weatherly
Cameron Sullivan
Oz Sullivan
Quillan Sullivan
Rory Sullivan
Colin Sullivan, Jr.
HOMES & PROPERTIES
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The Gardens
The colossal mansion of Colleen Deschanel at Jackson Ave., taking up an entire square block between Coliseum and Prytania in the Garden District. The Gardens also houses the cavernous chambers where the Deschanel Magi Collective and the Collective Council meet to discuss family business. The architectural style of the estate is Italianate, and the most notable feature is the extensive, exotic garden wrapping around the property, shielding the home from outside view.
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Ophelie
A large plantation and surrounding lands purchased by Charles Deschanel I, built in 1844, and currently occupied by Nicolas Deschanel, who inherited it as the heir to the estate. Located near Vacherie, an hour west of New Orleans, the Greek Revival ivory mansion on the Mississippi River is secluded from the road by gates and foliage. The estate has forty-five rooms and large ornate gardens, as well as two hundred outbuildings from when the property was a working plantation.
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Nicolas’ French Quarter Flat
A flat atop a jazz club, on Frenchmen near Dauphine, where Nicolas sleeps when he’s been out partying, to avoid the long drive back to Ophélie. The flat has two bedrooms, a spacious living area, and opens up on the backside into a shared courtyard.
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Lauren’s Apartment
Lauren’s traditional French Quarter apartment, located on Ursulines near Iberville. The apartment is two stories, and has a private courtyard.
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The Weatherly Estate
The vast, columned Uptown home of Daniel Weatherly, gifted to his father for his patronage of Tulane. The estate is located behind the sister universities of Tulane and Loyola, near the Ursuline’s Academy.
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Magnolia Grace
A beautiful, traditional Greek Revival mansion in the Garden District that once belonged to Fitz Deschanel (the second son of Charles I), and has ever since been passed down through the second sons. August Deschanel was the last second son to inherit the property, and he gave it to his daughter, Anasofiya, upon her marriage to Finnegan St. Andrews. The property is located on Prytania, near Eighth.
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Femme Forte
A sprawling Northshore mansion along Lake Pontchartrain, considered the birthright of Blanche and her descendants. The property is currently in possession of Luther Fontenot, who is the eldest son of Blanche’s favorite child, Eugenia.
