The Heart of Denise, and Other Tales

In Short

This volume brings together dramatic historical fiction and tales of exotic adventure, led by a gripping French cloak-and-sword novella. In the title story, Denise de Mieux is forced into a sudden, loveless marriage with the taciturn guard captain Blaise de Lorgnac. Escaping court intrigue and hidden threats through hazardous mountain journeys and sanctuary in an abbey, she uncovers the noble heart beneath her husband's harsh exterior. The surrounding short stories range across the globe, following Italian bravos, Burmese treasure hunters, tragic rivalries in the Himalayas, and dark bargains with the devil.

The Story

In the dark corridors of the Hôtel de Soissons, Denise de Mieux watches away her hours as a maid of honour to the Queen Mother. Her quiet existence ends abruptly when she is ordered to depart Paris immediately for Guyenne. To her shock and fury, she discovers she has been married by royal command—and without her consent—to Blaise de Lorgnac, the dour lieutenant of the guard. Believing de Lorgnac to be a mercenary scoundrel who bargained for her hand and fortune, Denise treats him with bitter contempt. Escorted by the handsome Marquis Raoul de Clermont, the party travels south. Along the way, de Clermont presents a smooth, charming facade, using Denise's delicate agate-handled riding whip to lightly ward off a group of dangerous, ill-looking men near Limoges.

As the journey deepens into danger, warnings reach the party. Madame learns of a plot concerning Denise and immediately arranges for her protection. To shield her from court schemes and royal orders, Denise is sent in secret under the care of the loyal old equerry Lalande to seek sanctuary at the mountain Convent of Our Lady of Meymac. Along the trail, Denise faces the true motives of the men around her. She learns that de Lorgnac did not act out of greed, but stepped forward during a corrupt court gathering to shield her honor from slanderous wagers after the King offered her hand to the first man who asked.

When Denise and de Lorgnac are reunited, he freely offers to keep his word to disappear from her life forever, demanding nothing in return. Touched by his selflessness, Denise realizes her error and admits her growing respect for him, asking only that he wait until she calls him back. The deceitful Marquis de Clermont attempts a final provocation before the King by returning a glove he snatched from Denise on her wedding day, trying to spark de Lorgnac's jealousy. However, the King exposes de Clermont's malice, confirming the true history of the glove. De Lorgnac challenges the marquis to settle the insult over crossed swords, and with all misjudgments cleared, he takes Denise into his arms.

The collection then shifts tone and setting across a series of dramatic tales. In Renaissance Italy, the battle-tested bravo Captain Guido Moratti accepts a contract from the sinister Cavaliere Michele di Lippo to hurry along an inheritance, only to find redemption and love while staying with the old Count at Pieve. In the hills of India, the Sansi outcaste Beeroo braves temple paths while priests play upon the superstitions of pilgrims. Deep in the Burmese lagoons, a pair of fortune hunters unearth forgotten jewels from a ruined temple, only to be overtaken by a violent storm where the stone Buddhas seem to mock their greed. A desperate publisher signs away his future to the mysterious M. De Bac for ten years of unexampled prosperity, while a tragic romance in the Himalayas ends in betrayal, mistaken identity, and a quiet death in the rainy streets of London.

How It Unfolds

A reluctant union Denise de Mieux sits bored in the Queen Mother's anteroom before being forced into an immediate, unwanted marriage with the stern guard lieutenant Blaise de Lorgnac. She departs Paris in bitterness, believing herself trapped by a greedy mercenary.

Threats on the road Travelling south toward Perigueux alongside the charming Marquis Raoul de Clermont, the party encounters dangerous highwaymen near Limoges. De Clermont smoothly wards off the bandits, but hidden court intrigues continue to track their steps.

Flight to sanctuary Warned of royal orders that endanger Denise, her patroness entrusts her to the veteran equerry Lalande. Denise rides secretly into the mountains to seek safety within the protected walls of the Convent of Our Lady of Meymac.

The truth revealed Denise learns that de Lorgnac married her solely to save her from a shameful court wager. Touched by his willingness to step away forever to preserve her freedom, she confesses her respect and asks him to return when she is ready.

Vindications and duels Before the King, the malicious Marquis de Clermont tries to ruin the couple's trust using a stolen glove. The King exposes the deceit, and de Lorgnac challenges de Clermont to a duel before claiming Denise's heart at last.

Tales of shadow and steel The narrative moves through shorter tales of redemption, greed, and fate. Captain Moratti turns away from a mercenary bargain in Italy, treasure-seekers face divine wrath in Burma, a publisher signs a dark pact, and a tragic love story closes in the London mist.

The People

• Denise de Mieux: A spirited maid of honour at the French court. She initially despises the man forced upon her as a husband, but her courage and keen judgment lead her to discover the truth behind the plot against her.
• Blaise de Lorgnac: The lieutenant of the guard. Taciturn, proud, and looking like a "great dog caught in some fault" when accused, he secretly marries Denise to save her honour from court gamblers, willing to forfeit his own happiness for her sake.
• Raoul de Clermont: A handsome marquis whose polished manners hide a dark and deceitful nature. He acts as an escort on the road to Guyenne while secretly plotting against de Lorgnac.
• Captain Guido Moratti: A battle-scarred veteran who has sunk to working as a hired bravo. He faces a crisis of conscience when offered money by a corrupt cavaliere to commit murder.
• Michele di Lippo: A gaunt, red-haired cavaliere with cruel grey eyes who seeks to hasten his inheritance through violent means.
• Hake Stevens: An American treasure hunter in Burma whose obsession with legendary Portuguese gold drives him into madness amidst storm-swept ruins.
• John Mazarion: A handsome officer whose reckless foolishness breaks the heart of the woman who loves him, leaving him a broken wanderer.

In Its Own Voice

"A wife's duty to obey!" exclaimed Madame; "but that does not concern you. Stay! What do you mean, child?"

Madame expresses her utter bewilderment upon discovering that Denise has been secretly married to the guard lieutenant just an hour before their journey.

"Keep that lot, pard. Don't let them be mixed with the others. See! I will take what I can hold, too, and we will divide the rest."

Stevens speaks in a desperate, trembling voice as he scoops up the stolen Burmese jewels inside the canoe, overwhelmed by terror.

"He will come back to you, Nelly."

The narrator offers a gentle lie to a dying woman to grant her peace in her final moments on her deathbed.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book explores the gulf between outward appearances and true moral character. In courtly France, polished gallantry often masks treachery, while a rough, silent soldier hides a selfless knightly honour. The stories repeatedly examine how choices made under pressure reveal a person's inner worth—whether it is a guard captain choosing silence over self-justification, a hardened mercenary rejecting an easy bribe for a quiet conscience, or an adventurer undone by his own greed. Across its varied settings, the collection asks whether a person can rise above a ruined past and find redemption through loyalty, sacrifice, and truth.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy traditional late-nineteenth-century cloak-and-sword romances and atmospheric adventure tales will find much to admire here. The main narrative captures the tense, fast-paced atmosphere of historical swashbucklers, filled with mountain sanctuaries, hidden letters, royal court politics, and high-stakes duels over honor. The supporting stories add a rich variety of tone, moving from gothic bargains in dimly lit offices to vivid Indian landscapes and storm-drenched tropical lagoons.

While modern readers may find the dialogue occasionally theatrical and the prose steeped in the conventions of Victorian magazine fiction, the storytelling remains direct, sharp, and engaging. The book does not linger on heavy exposition; instead, it relies on swift action, clear character motives, and vivid period detail to move the narrative forward. It offers an entertaining, immersive retreat into classic tales of danger, romance, and chivalry.