Oh, to be the portrait painter of the kings and queens of all of Europe! She's in my next book!

Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (16 April 1755 – 30 March 1842) traveled Europe after she fled Paris during the Revolution. Known even before she left as the woman who portrayed Marie Antoinette in her boudoir wit her children, Le Brun had also painted many Frenchmen and woman and those who traveled to Versailles.

She feared returning to France during the upheavals of governments and traveled freely in the UK and on the Continent. She never learned English, but so many spoke French in many countries that she got along in a smattering of German and Russian.

She painted the portraits of Alexander I of Russia and his wife, Alexandra. Other portraits were of women and men in Lichtenstein, Bavaria, Belgium and England. Her price was approximately 1,000 British pounds in 1805.

She visited Brighton in the summer of 1805 and I have included her in LORD CARLISLE'S ENTICING LURE, debuting in August 2025!

Marie-Antoinette and her children 1787. Versailles.

Madame du Barry, portrait by Le Brun.

Comte de Vaudreuil, portrait by Le Brun.
He was for a short period Le Brun's lover.

2 Ladies from Baden. 2 arranged marriages. 2 unions gone wrong!

Here I have talked about the dukes of Baden, their alliances with Bonaparte for land, money and protection, but part of those alliances included arranged marriages that went wrong.

Here first is Stéphanie von Baden, niece of Josephine, whom Bonaparte adopted so that he could wed her to a ruler who was an ally of France. She became Grand Duchess Stéphanie von Baden (1789–1860), out living her husband.

They lived apart in the beginning of their marriage, but came together to have five children, three daughters and two sons. Both boys died in childhood.

Stephanie lived in Mannheim after her husband's death.

~~~~

Elizabeth Alexeievna—or as she was known at birth, Louise von Baden—was the eldest daughter of the duke of Baden and therefore the sister-in-law of Stephanie, the Grand Duchess. She was considered the loveliest woman in Europe and many wished to marry her. Bonaparte thought of it himself but this was early in his role as Emperor and had not yet divorced Josephine.

Louise married the Tsarevich, Alexander, who later became Alexander I, emperor of Russia. They had no children.

In 1802 Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun painted this portrait of her. (Le Brun who lived in many countries after she fled Paris and the Terror, painted many rulers of Europe.) 

5 STAR review for IMPOSTER from Uncaged!

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The video! A man in love, a woman he yearns to save...if he can.

LIE DOWN WITH A LYON debuts 4.30.25

https://books2read.com/u/bWa8n7

LIE DOWN WITH A LYON for a First Kiss! A nibble now! Debuts 4.30.25

Copyright 2025, Cerise DeLand. All rights reserved. 

He stepped around her, his height and breadth a barrier between her and the wind. He lifted her chin. His tormented gaze deepened to a river of regret as the gathering clouds blocked out the sun. Catching her wrists, he pressed the palms of her hands to the flat of his chest. Beneath her flesh, his own pounded. “If I could, I would marry one woman.”

She could not bear to ask if that lady was her. Oh, but she could hope. “What deters you?”

“She and I are star-crossed.”

“Can that chasm not be bridged?”

He brought her hands up to his lips, and the journey they took began with the press of his lips to one wrist, then the other. “No,” he rasped. “She is not mine to have.”

“How…how do you know?” 

He opened one palm and licked the skin. She trembled at his ardor. 

“She wants, she deserves, more than I can give her.” 

“Sometimes,” she ventured, caught between desire and propriety, “love can grant more to a relationship than circumstances provide.” She had no knowledge of that, no understanding. She had heard it whispered among her childhood friends in Crawford’s school, or read of it in books that were in essence fairytales for adults. 

He hooded his eyes as he bent and nipped the pad of one thumb, then the other. His lips stirred fresh, hot hunger in her blood. 

She threw back her head, her eyes squeezed shut. “Please stop.”

He circled her waist with both arms and pulled her against him. His lips in her hair, he whispered, “I can’t.”

’Twas then she threw all caution to the windy afternoon, reached up, and caught his cheeks. Sliding up against the bulwark of his fabulous body, she put her lips to his. 

No man had she ever kissed. She knew not how, exactly. But in that moment, instinct was her guide and she took his lips, parted from him, and took them again. He groaned and crushed his mouth on hers. Heaven, at once, appeared before her. 

He was fierce in his claim. Ravenous. His arms were iron, his lips a brand, his tongue a fierce probe she met with a cry of delight. He’d said he was not married. He was gentle, persuasive—an animal who took and gave. He’d said he could not marry because the one he desired was so different. But in the command of his kiss, the claim of his tongue, the groan from his throat, he declared how he wanted her.

She believed him. His fierce possession of her. His words. 

And she let him have her. All of her. Her lips, her teeth, her heart. How could he not want to claim her? She wanted all of him!

He broke their kiss. 

She gasped for air and marveled at the look on his face.

He was enchanted—torn and furious. He cupped her shoulders. His voice a rasp, he said, “I must go.”

Dazed, she let him steady her on her feet. Insulted, heartbroken, she fought for sanity. He would leave her? After this? Was he a fool?

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Smashing 5++ STARS review of LORD FOURNIER'S SHAMELESS PRINCESS: "Intoxicating!"

 

This review comes from N.N. Light who is a professional reviewer. She has been so kind to read my work and gives you good detail why she loves it.

Please read!

It is here:  https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/lord-fournier-s-shameless-princess-br

5++ stars for Lord Fournier's Shameless Princess: A Regency Historical Romance (Scarlett Affairs Book 4) by Cerise DeLand #bookreview #regency #historicalromance

"Title: Lord Fournier's Shameless Princess: A Regency Historical Romance (Scarlett Affairs Book 4)

Author: Cerise DeLand

Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance

 

TBD: Who married into the dukes of Baden's family? Surprise #1: a relative of Josephine! And #2?

 

Stephanie de Beauharnais, niece of Josephine Bonaparte and Grand Duchess of Baden

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Tasty bits of a real castle and royal history in LORD FOURNIER'S SHAMELESS PRINCESS, PART 3

Hohenzollern Castle in Hechingen
in Black Forest in Baden

Many little tidbits are true history in PRINCESS that you definitely want to read it for that —as well as the slow burn romance of Dirk, an English baron who valiantly saves lives, for the lovely Liesel, Crown Princess of Rittenburg!

So what are the true bits?

1. The picture above of the Hohenzollern Castle is what I picture the Rittenburg Castle to look like.
2. But the real castle of Thurn und Taxis looks like this: 

The timing of Bonaparte being declared emperor for life and his relentless march to overtake the Continent.

The race by many German leaders to leave the Continent before he could capture them.

The alliance of many, like the Margrave of Baden, with Bonaparte.

The crossing of General Caulaincourt over the Rhine to capture the unlucky and unwise Duke d’Enghien.

The attempt by many to persuade that young Bourbon to leave Ettenheim.

The outrage by Britain and Russia that the French violated international boundaries to be so bold as to capture, try and assassinate a prince of the Bourbon blood.

And that description in SHAMELESS PRINCESS of the “crush” at King George’s birthday celebration where a few fainted from the heat is also true!

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My Personal Tasty Bit of History for SHAMELESS PRINCESS: My ancestor fought for Napoleon!

1. Me at Karlsruhe Palace of Dukes of Baden!

A few years ago, I received as a Christmas present from my husband a full subscription to Ancestry.com. I had known for decades my paternal family history as far back as my great grandfather, who was the first in the family to leave Germany and emigrate to the United States. But I knew not anything more.

To my surprise and delight, I discovered in the German records that my great-great-great grandfather listed in the town records his profession as 'soldat'. Soldier. 

He lived during the period of the wars on the Continent and miraculously he survived. He had many children, of whom from one I am descended. But he was forced into the Baden army to serve Napoleon. Why? Because the duke—Der Grosse Herzog, auf Deutsch—aligned himself with Napoleon, then taxed and conscripted his own subjects so that he could gain more land!

2. Pistols on display in palace, c. 1815

So I tell you that as I wrote this story of the princess of Rittenberg and the English baron whom she grew to love, I was telling you also of my enchantment with the cities of Karlsruhe, the capital of Baden. The delights of Strasbourg, across on the French side of the Rhine. The delights of old Heidelberg, the city that for centuries printed more books than any other. 

3. Throne room of dukes of Baden

I show you my pictures...and I have more to come! 

1. Me in the gardens of the palace of the dukes' of Baden and in front of the man who was responsible for him fighting in Napoleon's wars.

2. The pistols circa 1815 used by Baden's soldiers during the Napoleonic wars.

3. The throne room of the Dukes of Baden. This is the example I used to paint a similar throne room in Rittenberg's palace for Crown Princess Elizabeth of Baden.

4. A closer look at the Duke of Baden's statue.

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4. Closer look at the duke of Baden's statue.

Extra! These are the 2 scepters and crown of dukes of Baden!

Tasty bits of real history in LORD FOURNIER'S SHAMELESS PRINCESS, PART 1. Who could a crown princess marry?

    

My vision of Elizabeth, 
Crown Princess von Rittenburg
Debuts: 3/27/25

Our heroine, Elizabeth—or Liesel, as she prefers to be called by her friends—is a crown princess of a very well positioned principality in the Holy Roman Empire. The heroine of LORD FOURNIER’S SHAMELESS PRINCESSS, Liesel is not only lovely and well educated, but hails from a rich city-state. Exactly like so many young ladies in German states at this time, she is afraid. She can flee the French into Russia, Prussia, or Vienna. But by the time Bonaparte abducts the Duke d’Enghien, that man has shown he cannot quell the advances of the French.

Liesel’s home, the city-state of Rittenburg, I made up. But it is based on the real princely house of Thurn und Taxis. In 1615, they became the Imperial Postmasters of the Holy Roman Empire and while setting postal rates for most of Europe, became fabulously rich. (They continued in this role until 1867. Look them up! The family still have their titles and live in their magnificent castle.)

Liesel’s intended fate to marry into the British royal family is not far from reality. Our Lisel has enough prestige, power and money and influence that the British Georgians want her in their family. She is not the only German royal desired by the British royal family. 

George III and Queen Charlotte had 15 children. Of them, ten married and eight of them married royalty from the Germanic principalities. Often relatives married very close relatives. The list is long: 

Prussia

Brunswick

Saxe-Meiningen

Wurttemberg

Saxe-Cobourg-Saalfeld

Hesse-Homburg

Hesse-Kassel

Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Most of these German territories abutted the German state of Hanover. Many were wealthy territories, like Baden and Württemberg. Others were small with little income but many royal progeny from which the Hanoverian rulers of Britain could choose potential spouses. Indeed, they were so numerous and often interbred—even before Victoria married her cousin Albert—that they suffered from all kinds of health ailments. But what these marriages with Germanic princes and princesses offered Britain was a sense of stability in a period when the post-Napoleonic Europeans wished for it most avidly. 

Read LORD FOURNIER'S SHAMELESS PRINCESS for a slow burn romance you'll adore!

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