In the heart of a Southern state, Mary Beatrice was an anomaly: an abolitionist bound more by duty than desire to her family’s plantation. Her spirit of defiance was evident, but it was her love for a Yankee officer that truly set her free. This love was not her first act of rebellion, but it was the most transformative.
Bucking tradition and expectation, Mary Beatrice faced numerous challenges. Yet, with each setback, she rose, displaying resilience, grace, and, at times, fiery determination. She crafted an extraordinary life on her own terms, refusing to be confined by societal norms or gender.
After teaching English for 37 years from Vermont to South Carolina, Deborah Coe Reinhold co-founded and directed the Lyceum at Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, before finishing her first novel. Deborah is the mother of Joanna, a biochemist, and stepmother of Evan, a counselor. She lives with her husband, Bob, and their rescue dogs in Mt. Pleasant, SC, where she walks the beach most mornings at dawn.