Pink Carnation Recap: GARDEN INTRIGUE

Eight down, only one more to go until we’re caught up with the series before the release of Pink X, The Passion of the Purple Plumeria!

We round off our recap marathon with Pink IX, The Garden Intrigue.

Who: Emma Morris Delagardie and Augustus Whittlesby
Where: France
When: Summer, 1804
What: When Augustus Whittlesby hears that Bonaparte’s new top secret device is to be tested over the course of a weekend house party at Malmaison, he needs a way in. But the only way in is via American socialiate, Emma Morris Delagardie—and a masque that masks more than even Augustus suspects.
Historical Cameos: Robert Livingston, Robert Fulton, lots of Bonapartes

With The Garden Intrigue, I got to bring back a number of characters from early in the series: not just assorted Bonapartes, but also a great deal of Jane, Miss Gwen, the wonderfully loathsome Georges Marston, and, of course, our hero himself, that over the top poet, Augustus Whittlesby, who has been undercover as a poet so long that he’s even started to think in rhyme. I also got to introduce my first American character: Emma Morris Delagardie, a born and bred New Yorker.

You can find a full compendium of Garden Intrigue extras– pictures of Malmaison, fun facts, descriptions of the real historical characters, images of clothing and jewelry, and other background info– via this post.

My favorite scene from The Garden Intrigue? I enjoyed watching Emma and Augustus rehearse their masque– especially when Augustus has to step in to show Emma’s cousin how it’s done. Not to mention Miss Gwen’s cameo appearance as Pirate Queen.

What’s your favorite scene from The Garden Intrigue?

And that completes our Pink Carnation recap round-up! Pink X, The Passion of the Purple Plumeria, will be here in just a week and a half. I can’t wait to share Miss Gwen’s story with you all….

4 Comments

  1. Céline on July 26, 2013 at 9:23 am

    I have a soft spot for the marzipan pig in this book… even more since I found a real one in a bakery!
    What amazed me in this book is how you show us the real personality of Augustus, behind the bad poet… that was very very talented of you!

  2. Jeffrey on July 26, 2013 at 11:27 am

    I dearly loved the short missives that passed between Emma and Augustus that showed a budding and romantic attraction between these two.

    I also got a kick out of Napoleon bursting out of his garden sanctuary and telling them to quiet down. Your depiction of Napoleon was so-so authentic.

    Somebody stop me….I also was thoroughly amused by Miss Gwen’s disdainful comments aimed at just about everybody during the masque rehearsal but especially poor Augustus. (one can imagine the troop cowering in fear as Miss Gwen waves a cutlass around)

  3. Betty S. on July 26, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    I thoroughly enjoyed the rehearsal scenes between Emma and Augustus too. The revelation of true character personalities is always fun for me.

  4. Dara on July 29, 2013 at 6:42 pm

    Loved getting to know Augustus better. And Miss Gwen as the Pirate Queen is priceless.

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