Chapter 1
Cliveden
The rich history of Cliveden can be traced back throughout its 150 year Dubois family dynasty. Augustus Dubois, the last connection to the plantation had just died. His wife Joan died childless 10 years ago and without siblings to pass it down to, the old mansion was auctioned off.
Cliveden, a 600-acre cotton plantation, is situated at the edge of the Mississippi Delta, 55 miles northwest of the city of Biloxi. It’s bordered by a swamp on one side, and 100 acres of forest on the other.
The main house stands like a white monument, with its wide front porch roof supported by four white columns. Two wrought iron gates at the entrance of the main road were secured by two brick columns that stood like sentries guarding the old plantation.
The road coming in is lined on both sides with 100-year-old oak trees, their thick branches extending across the road almost touching, made it appear as though they were holding hands. Spanish-Moss, an air plant that’s a muted olive green and gray in color, hangs from the branches like a shroud, moving gently at the slightest breeze. A section of the road has a split rail fence to keep the horses from straying, and beyond the fence just over the rim of the hill, are the quarters.
