Dezarae Dunsmuir - Catherines Men: A Historical Biography

Catherines Men

Copyright2018 Dezara Dunsmuir

ISBN 978-1-949276-02-2

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Dear Readers:

For readers of this biography, the Lady Catherines life and its lessons can be summed up in two words: Hope and survival.

If your life has you overburdened and overwhelmed, if you are devastated by grief and loss, if you are struggling with your own depression or have a broken heart because of some faithless lover, if you are struggling financially, if you are fighting a chronic illness, if you are suffering and sad and see no point in carrying on life at all, just pick up this book and read about my wonderful maternal grandmothers life.

What my Baba overcame in her life was so incredible, it was beyond words. It was almost beyond belief: it was like a great movie script. She had the courage and heart of a lioness protecting her cubs. If she was going to go down, she would go down fighting, come Hell or high water.

Despite all of her suffering, she never gave up Hope. It is true that as long as there is Hope, there is a chance for life.

That is what we should all remember: we must all somehow survive and never lose Hope - no matter what hand life deals us. We must fight for our loved ones and fight for ourselves. If it looks like we are going down, we must all go down fighting to the last breath.

When I am depressed and ready to give up, I pick up this book and let it fall open on whatever page and I usually find a passage that lightens my heart just enough to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

It would do my heart good to know it does the same for you.

To keeping your Hope alive

and your continuing Survival,

Dezara Destrier Dunsmuir

But I dont want to get married and I refuse to do so!

With that pronouncement, Catherine fled the room in a flounce of skirts, her two faithful Wolfhounds trailing after her. She rushed to her bedroom and threw herself onto her chaise lounge, which was in front of the windows that provided her with her favorite view. The city of Odessa, Russia, lay before her. From her vantage point of the mansion on the highest hill in the city, she could see it sprawled out before her in all its alluring glory.

Catherine admired the lemon and lime trees that bordered the broad avenues and guarded the gardens of the wealthy. She watched the shiny, glittering carriages pulled by handsome horses float up and down the streets. Best of all, Catherine could see the steps leading to the sea, the feature of the woman that was Odessa that Catherine loved best. As the Wolfhounds lay on the Turkish carpet beneath the chaise, Catherin wiped tears from her eyes as she stared out at the sea. The brave front she posed in front of her parents crumbled and she began to cry in earnest, like the mere slip of a girl barely out of childhood that she was.

I dont even know Serozha. Ive barely glimpsed him at balls and musicales and hardly seen much more of him at dinner parties. All the girls think hes handsome and definitely the catch of all the available bachelors. I dont know Serozha Nickolevitch and I am most certainly not marrying a man I do not even know, she thought.

As she wiped more tears from her eyes, Catherine also admitted to herself that fighting her parents, especially her father on this matter, would be hopeless. She was not only well schooled; Catherine was well trained in the mores expected of a young woman in her position. She knew about noblesse oblige and she also knew that marriages in her circle were seldom made for love: they were alliances and more like business deals, really.

Discerning whether, or not, a young man was an eligible candidate had little - very little - to do with whether the young man cared for the young woman and vice versa. Neither party had much say in the matter.

Their parents made the decisions and the young people obediently went along with them. It was an accepted fact of life and fighting against it was pointless.

Serozha Nickolevitch is too old for me: hes twenty-three, almost an old man! She was becoming angry again.

What am I to do with an old man like that? What could I possibly find to talk to him about?

I dont even like spending much time with my female friends: I prefer my horses and dogs to their silly giggling and endless prattle about boys and marriage. I dont understand why they are so interested in boys and marriage. I would be happy to stay here with Momma and Poppa forever. I dont want to marry anyone, especially not that old man Serozha Nickolevitch! She fumed.

Our daughter is certainly opinionated and perhaps a little spoiled, as Catherines father, Haracim, spoke, his stern countenance belying his disappointment at his daughters reaction to the news she was just given.

A little spoiled, yes, and opinionated, very, but thats our fault, Haracim. We always encouraged her to think for herself and to speak her mind, responded Eudoxia.

It is also the case that she is well trained in our ways and will marry Serozha Nickolevitch if that is our wish.

I hope the words from your mouth go to Gods ears because we will have our hands full with our daughter and this marriage business.

It will be a bit of a struggle but she will do what we ask in the end, replied Eudoxia.

I plan to announce the engagement at a ball we will hold in one months time. The marriage will take place the required one-year after that. Catherine will be sixteen and well within marrying age by then. The dowry has already been agreed upon and Serozhas father is undoubtedly delivering the good news to his son at this very moment.