**Set against the backdrop of the first all-female Mardi Gras krewe at
the turn-of-the-century, the acclaimed author's mesmerizing historical
novel tells of two strangers separated by background but bound by an
unexpected secret--and of the strength and courage women draw from and
inspire in each other.
"An undercurrent of New Orleans's dark side propels the story,
heightening the tension and supplying McPhail with a wealth of evocative
details." --Publishers Weekly**
1900: Though the dawn of a new century promises social progress, there
are few options for women like Alice Butterworth, pregnant and abandoned
by her husband. In desperation, Alice leaves Chicago's bitter cold and
travels to New Orleans, where she offers sewing lessons at an orphanage.
Young widow Constance Halstead has thrown herself into charity work
since her husband's death. Seeing Alice's skill, she offers lodging in
exchange for help creating a gown for the Leap Year ball of Les
Mysterieuses, the first all-female krewe of Mardi Gras. Leap Years
offer women a rare opportunity--to turn the tables on men, upending
convention. As the breathtaking gown takes shape piece by piece, it
becomes a symbol of empowerment for them both.
But overshadowing all is the Black Hand--the vicious New Orleans gang to
whom Constance's husband was deep in debt. His death hasn't satisfied
them. And as Mardi Gras draws near, a secret emerges that will cement
the bond between Alice and Constance, even as it threatens the new lives
each is building . . .
