American Gilt: Absinthe

Paris, January 1883 – The new year finds Oliver and Sara celebrating their recent marriage. After the drama of their protracted engagement the newlyweds are happy to depart New York, triumphant, for a honeymoon in Paris. Their romantic holiday on the Champs-Élysées is soon interrupted by the arrival of the bride’s mother and two sisters. Vacationing in France, Sara’s family moves into the newlyweds’ honeymoon suite. Intent on making the most of the marriage, Mrs. Whiting insists on introducing them to all of Paris society, capitalizing on the Whiting family’s elevated status. Oliver rapidly tires of the arrangement, missing their privacy, and voices his objections to Sara. He offers to pay for a separate suite, but Sara refuses, happy for her family’s presence and concerned about offending her mother. Meanwhile, Oliver develops an obsession with absinthe, often escaping to dark men’s clubs long into the night. He becomes increasingly belligerent and unpredictable, and Sara begins to realize there is a darker side to her groom. Oliver’s drinking escalates, along with his violent moods. The situation culminates in a furious confrontation between the newlyweds, ending only when Oliver storms from their suite threatening divorce and scandal, shouting “You are not my wife!” Sara is left battered and terrified, abandoned by her husband. In ABSINTHE, Book II of the SWAN SONG TRILOGY, the historic scandal unfolds. Based on the true account of the Belmont-Whiting scandal of 1883, this tale of love and betrayal is skillfully woven by author J. D. Peterson. Drawing on information gathered from family letters, newspaper archives and personal interviews, SWAN SONG TRILOGY transports readers through time, captivated and clamoring for more.