title: The Crusader's Bride: The Champions of Saint Euphemia Book 1
author:  Claire Delacroix 
description: Bestselling author Claire Delacroix published her first romance novel - a medieval romance called THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE - in 1993. Since then, she has published over forty romance novels and numerous novellas, including time travel romances, contemporary romances and paranormal romances. THE BEAUTY, part of her successful Bride Quest series, was her first book to land on the <i>New York Times</i> list of bestselling books. Claire has written under the name Claire Cross and continues to write as Deborah Cooke as well as Claire Delacroix. Claire makes her home in Canada with her family, a large undisciplined garden and a growing number of incomplete knitting projects.
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  ##### www.blackmask.com
  
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  An Old Maid
  
  
    
    
  [CHAPTER I. ONE OF MANY CHEVALIERS DE VALOIS  
    
  ](An%20Old%20Maid_split_001.html#filepos1920)[CHAPTER II. SUSANNAH AND THE
  ELDERS  
    
  ](An%20Old%20Maid_split_001.html#filepos23618)[CHAPTER III. ATHANASE  
    
  ](An%20Old%20Maid_split_002.html#filepos62722)[CHAPTER IV. MADEMOISELLE CORMON  
    
  ](An%20Old%20Maid_split_002.html#filepos82780)[CHAPTER V. AN OLD MAID'S
  HOUSEHOLD  
    
  ](An%20Old%20Maid_split_002.html#filepos128393)[CHAPTER VI. FINAL
  DISAPPOINTMENT AND ITS FIRST RESULT  
    
  ](An%20Old%20Maid_split_002.html#filepos184246)[CHAPTER VII. OTHER RESULTS
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  # An Old Maid
  
  
  ### Honore de Balzac
  
  
  ##### Translated by Katharine Prescott Wormeley
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  DEDICATION
  
  
  
  
  
  To Monsieur Eugene-Auguste-Georges-Louis Midy de la Greneraye
  
  
  Surville, Royal Engineer of the Ponts at Chausses.
  
  
  
  
  
  As a testimony to the affection of his brother-in-law,
  
  
  
  
  
  De Balzac
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  