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In considering the landmarks and locales of Greer and Beatrice’s story, I’m pleased to say some still exist. When you go to London, you can stroll along New Bond Street and even pop into Asprey’s, which remains at your service, selling fine things to fine people. You can also see Marlborough House, St. James’s Place, Cavendish Square, and Baker Street, made famous by Arthur Conan Doyle who placed his fictional Sherlock Holmes in a townhouse not far from the Rare-Foure’s home.
Sadly, you cannot go to Clarendon House, where I situated the Earl of Clarendon’s ball, as it was sold out of the family long before this story took place and was torn down to become the site of Dover Street, Albemarle Street, and Old Bond Street (at the other end of which is New Bond Street and Rare Confectionery). The house was considered “the most useful, graceful and magnificent house in England” (John Evelyn, 1620 -1706), and many other homes, mostly country manors, were modeled after it. Belton House, in Lincolnshire, built around the same time, supposedly looks very similar, and you can see it on the internet.
The Marlborough House fancy-dress (costume) ball described in this book is based on an actual one held in 1874, considered one of the most magnificent events of the decade, perhaps not overshadowed until the Devonshire House ball of 1897, also a fancy-dress ball. While the Marlborough ball was reported to have had 1,400 guests, some reports say the Devonshire one had 3,000 invites. (Of course, some say the moon is made of green cheese, too!) In any case, a photographer was employed, and nearly three hundred photographs of the famous people in costume have been published and preserved. Amazing to see, and you can do so on the internet.
You can still go to Greer Carson’s hotel, The Langham, nearly destroyed in 1980 to be replaced by an office building. (Perish the thought!) Instead, over the course of the next couple of decades, it was restored more than once and is a grand Victorian lady once again, naturally with all the modern conveniences and a very high nightly rate. Mr. Foure would be utterly stunned by the current cost of a room. Also, The Langham is considered one of the most haunted hotels in the world. (Tip: Ask to stay in room 333, if you are a ghost-hunter.)
Lastly, Cleopatra’s Needle was erected on September 12, 1878, as portrayed in this story. The obelisk truly had nothing to do with the Queen of the Nile, but the vessel it came over on, and which nearly sank on the journey, was named The Cleopatra. Many considered the monument an eyesore, but now, one cannot imagine the Victoria Embankment without it. Personally, I can’t think of it without seeing Greer and Beatrice sitting on the stone wall beside the obelisk, holding hands and pledging their troth. Thanks for reading!
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