Jude Deveraux's "The James River Trilogy" Quiz

Answer: Counterfeit Lady, Lost Lady and River Lady

The order of the series is "Counterfeit Lady, Lost Lady and then River Lady." "Counterfeit Lady" is the story of Nicole and Clay (Clayton). "Lost Lady" is about the unique relationship of Regan and Travis. "River Lady" is about Travis' brother Wesley, and Wesley's wife Leah. Each relationship ends with everyone where and with who they belong, it's a nice "happy ever after" for everyone.

Answer: "To show one's mettle"

According to Nicole she hired the old man because of his hand. Showing his mutilated hand, he showed considerable pride and experience in his work. This man was a mill dresser; he used a chisel to sharpen grooves in the millstone. His right hand would be covered with a glove or leather, while the left hand remained uncovered.

After years of this constant work, the left hand would become embedded with bits of the stones, the flakes, turning his left hand into a mutilated, gray lumpy mess. When looking for work, the man would show his hand with pride, because it was "to show one's mettle". According to Nicole the word mettle in old English means crushed stone.

Answer: Bianca

Clay's older brother James married their family's overseer's daughter, Beth. Both Clay and James loved Beth; she was an outgoing, bubbly, always happy person. Clay's parents died from cholera but he still had James and Beth. A friend had told them that there was a woman in England who could be Beth's twin and her name was Bianca.

After a boating accident killed James and Beth. Clay became enamoured with Bianca. He mistakenly believed that Bianca could replace Beth, and it would be like she had never died.

When she refused to come to America, Clay arranged to have her kidnapped and married her by proxy while at sea, except Nicole was taken and she married Clay instead of Bianca. When Bianca finally did arrived in America, no one liked her but Clay couldn't see it. All he could see was this woman looked like his Beth.

He did finally realize who she was, and who she wasn't. Bianca made Clay's life miserable and he spent most of his time drinking. In the end though, he ended up happily married to Nicole.

Answer: She was kidnapped

After Clay marries Nicole by proxy and she arrives in America, a family friend, Ellen Backes, held a 'congratulations' party for them. Bianca arrives at the party, where she meets Abe, Isaac and Ike Simmons as well as their insane father Elijah, who claim to be long lost cousins. Bianca convinces them that she is the rightful Mrs Armstrong, and in exchange for a few animals and some promises for the future they kidnapped Nicole. Isaac Simmons went along with his brothers, but he managed to keep Nicole safe from them and is injured himself. While they are looking for Nicole, Travis, Clay and Wesley go to the Simmons' farm, where they received no help from Elijah or his wife. Thirteen-year-old Leah helps them; she told them where to find her brothers and Nicole. Leah asks if, when she is grown, Wesley will marry her. Wesley laughs and says maybe (this sets up perfectly for the Wesley and Leah story in "River Lady.") With the information that Leah gave them, they were able to find Nicole. Abe Simmons disappears but Isaac stays and ends up working on the plantation for Clay.

Answer: 742

Travis hired the children of Scarlet Springs to deliver roses to Regan every half hour, and each time the amount of roses increased. By 9 p.m. Regan had received 561 roses. By midnight, when the final rose was delivered, Regan had received 742 roses in every colour possible.

The last rose that Travis sent Regan, was delivered at midnight by Reverend Wentworth. This rose was a delicate, pink tinted, long, fragile crystal rose with a green tinted stem. Attached to the rose was a single engraved silver band that held a marriage proposal.

Answer: Arranged a parade and a circus

As the whole town of Scarlet Springs watched, with some participating, Travis had 742 roses delivered to Regan on the first day. On the second day, he had written out on blue paper marriage proposals. Regan and the rest of the town found these notes everywhere. They were in her clothes, in her shoes, under her pillow, in her office, in her safe, at the Doctor's office, in the store, and at the Blacksmith's.

For the third day, Travis arranged for a parade. There were clowns that spelled out the word Jennifer (Regan and Travis' daughter), there were men who performed stunts on the back of horses, men walking on stilts, a live black bear, a band, and an elephant. There was also a white pony that Jennifer was allowed to keep. At the end of the parade, there was an announcement that there would be a free circus for the town. At the circus, Travis himself walked the tightrope. The second time he walked across the tightrope he unveiled a banner that again asked Regan to marry him.

Answer: Margo

Margo Jenkins is the long-time neighbour of Travis and Wesley. She had always believed that one day she would marry Travis. She became jealous after Travis married Regan, and after Travis' intense three day courtship and Regan's agreement to remarry, Margo kidnapped Travis and Regan's daughter Jennifer.
Originally Regan had agreed to an arranged marriage with Farrell Batsford in England. She refused when she discovered he was only interested in her estates, and because of that she left England. Farrell followed her to America, and found her at her hotel, The Silver Dolphin Inn. After Regan agreed to remarry Travis, Farrell joined Margo in her plan for revenge. Once Travis discovered that Margo had kidnapped Jennifer, he suspected that Margo would take Jennifer to her home and followed her there. Regan was unable to wait, so she left her hotel and followed Travis. Margo's plan was that she would poison Travis with opium. Farrell had shot Wesley, and was going to make it look like a hunting accident. Then Regan would marry Farrell, but commit suicide over her grief for Travis. Farrell would return to England to inherit Regan's estates there. Jennifer and Travis' plantation would be left to Margo.

Farrell did shoot Wesley, Margo did poison Travis, but neither turned out fatal. Travis managed to stop Margo, and Wesley stopped Farrell. Margo's house burnt down with her inside. Jennifer went home with her parents and her uncle.

Answer: Steven Shaw

Steven Shaw is Kimberly's brother. Kimberly is the woman that Wesley was originally planning on marrying. Leah decides that Kimberly and Steven could join them on the trip to Kentucky so that everyone could start a new life there. Leah and Wesley would get a divorce and he would be free to marry Kimberly. Leah wished to go because she had plans to start her own weaving business and to escape the "one of those Simmonses" reputation. The day that the group met Justin Stark, they needed to cross a river that had recently flooded. Wesley was careful in crossing the river, but Steven said he was not so timid and forced the horses, instead of crossing the river slower.

He said he didn't want Stark to think he was a coward. The horses were panicked, and Steven ended up letting go of the reins which tipped the wagon. Leah managed to get the reins and bring the horses and wagon safely across the river. During the crossing Steven had fallen into the river, and even though Justin, Wesley and Leah searched the river for him, it was too late; he had hit his head when he fell and died.

Answer: John Hammond

When the group arrives in Kentucky, Wesley informed Kimberly that he would rather remain married to Leah instead of getting a divorce and marrying her. Kimberly, understandably, was upset; she wanted to hurt Leah. So she asked Leah to get her a hat off the wagon, then she took a four inch hat pin she stuck it into the rump of one of the horses.

This panicked the horse, which panicked the other horses; they took off running and toppled the wagon. Kimberly's intent was to tip the wagon with Leah inside.

The only person who saw Kimberly sticking the hat pin into the horse was John Hammond. He said he would not tell anyone what he saw if Kimberly married him. After Kimberly marries John, she eventually tells Leah everything and asks for forgiveness. Leah agrees, and Kimberly and she become friends.

Answer: Regan's partner

After Regan leaves Travis, she goes as far as the stage coach will bring her which is the town of Scarlet Springs. Brandy owns a farmhouse there; it was her parent's home and after they died she inherited it. They decide to go into business together; Brandy would cook, and Regan would sell. Over time they expanded to selling goods that travelers would need. They would buy from one group of travelers and sell it to the next incoming group. They continued expanding, turning the farmhouse into a boarding house, and then eventually into a hotel, naming it The Silver Dolphin Inn. Brandy even helped in the delivery of Regan's daughter Jennifer.

Regan and Brandy continued expanding, eventually owning practically the whole town. They owned the print shop, doctor's office, lawyer's office, the druggist, blacksmith and the mercantile store. Reverend Wentworth joked that they owned the whole town except for the church, but that Regan and Brandy financed the building of it.