title: The Disappearing Duke: The Improbable Tale of an Eccentric English Family
author:  Tom Freeman-Keel 
description: When, in the early 19th century, the fourth duke of Portland informed his sons that owing to "the strain of madness" in the family, "the normal life of married bliss cannot be for you," Lord John, the future fifth duke, came up with a unique and eventually problematic solution: he lived a double-or perhaps even triple-life. Calling himself Thomas Druce, he wooed and married a 16-year-old village girl and fathered three children. Then he abandoned her, eventually bringing the children to London, where he had fathered the first of three children with another woman whom he refused to marry until his first wife was dead. Confused yet? There's more: Druce also joined the army, ran a successful London department store and might have checked himself into an insane asylum for a time under the name of Dr. Harmer. As the duke of Portland at mid-century, he had underground tunnels built both at his country house and, rumor had it, his London mansion, the better to keep his many secrets. How he managed to juggle his multiple identities is a mystery that British authors Freeman-Keel (From Auschwitz to Alderney) and Crofts (coauthor of Sold) never do solve, but they recreate a fantastic tale of deception, intrigue and madness. Still, though this is an entertaining read, those expecting a strict historical reconstruction of events will be less than satisfied; the authors provide little in the way of sourcing for this "dramatization of a true story in which the truth is tantalizingly elusive." <br />Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  marriagelesson_chapters
  
  [Chapter
  1](file:///C|/Torrent%20Files/Books/Romance%20Novels/marriagelesson_frontmatter.htm#ch1-r)
  
  
  
  
  
  Spring 1819
  
  
  “B last it all, I’m a marquess, not a bloody governess.” Thomas Effington, the
  Marquess of Helmsley and future Duke of Roxborough, drained the glass of
  brandy he held in his hand and promptly poured another.
  
  Randall, Viscount Beaumont, studied him over the rim of his own glass. “You’ve
  mentioned that already this evening. Several times, in fact.”
  
  “It bears repeating.” Thomas sank into a wing chair identical to the one his
  friend occupied. Both were angled toward the massive oak desk that had well
  served the previous eight Dukes of Roxborough.
  
  For a moment he considered suggesting they move to the sofa facing the
  fireplace at the far end of the long Effington House library. In spite of the
  fine spring day, the evening was cool and the warmth of the fire would be
  welcome. Still, these chairs were closer to the cabinet that ho