Liza Marchant

"How did Liza manage all her businesses?" wondered modern-day writer Ellie Fuller as she continued her research into Liza Marchant's life. "We have mobiles, computers, video calls, but all she had were letters. The successful Transatlantic telegraph system didn't come into play, until after the Civil War." But, even with the lack of immediate communication, Liza and the Fuller family took advantage of an opportunity presented to them in the form of land and government investment near New York, which resulted in farming, factories and the new township of Daltons. "An opportunity not to be missed," Liza had said, and she had been right. As Ellie continued with Liza's story, she had reason to ponder the justice system in the 19th-century, which was harsh, sometimes deservedly so, but at other times, it was overly severe. She found that there were far reaching consequences for Liza and Jamie, when they chose not to report the whereabouts of an escaped prisoner to the authorities. They had convinced them- selves that their only sin was one of omission, but it repeatedly came back to haunt them. Much to Liza and Jamie's surprise, Bella, the Duchess of Berkshire and her two boys arrived on their doorstep one day. They all appeared to enjoy the experience so much that they rarely left, which led to a lifelong friendship between the two families. Having read through another of Liza's journals, Ellie sat back and thought that if communication had been more streamlined in those days then she would not be able to read the letters and journals, which pieced together all that happened in Liza's life. "I'm glad she didn't live in the so-called paperless society."

The time had come for the boys to go to university, but no sooner had their term started than all the Edgeworths and the Berkshires were expelled. This led Liza and Jamie on a furious journey to get answers to this uncharacteristic situation, as they knew that there had to be a logical reason for whatever actions the boys had taken. For a while the household was in uproar but eventually it settled, and an enjoyable Christmas was followed by the promising New Year of 1861. Liza and Jamie excitedly made plans to visit their friend Charles Enderby in South Carolina and they embarked on their trip before Easter of that year, although suggestions of war between the north and south of America had once again come to the fore but were dismissed as they had been on many occasions in the past. Unfortunately the first shots in the Civil War were fired whilst Liza and Jamie were still in South Carolina. They were held hostage by the Confederates and then caught up in some of the action as they tried to make their way home. It resulted in their experiencing the horrors of war, as a battle raged near Liza's beloved town of Benson. They lost friends and saw sights that they both found difficult to come to terms with. For a while they believed that they would never again see their family and friends in England, for to reach their home seemed more than they were capable of accomplishing.