Gentleman’s Trade by Holly Newman

1816 New OrleansHugh Talverton surveyed the traffic in the streets. “While walking today I heard no fewer than six different languages spoken, heard vendors hawking their wares in singsong fashion, bells have tolled from what seems like every corner, drums have sounded, bugles have blown, and I saw Gypsies singing and dancing in the streets. New Orleans has a music unlike any other city.”

While Vanessa Mannion warmed to the uppity Britisher’s observation on her city, she bristled at her father’s orders to be nice to him; especially since Hugh seemed to take delight in American mishaps. Particularly her own!