Fox Files with Violet Yorke
This week on Fox Files, I met with Violet Yorke. This gal, wow. It was really interesting. I went way back to 1912 to meet her and so when I came home. I looked her up. Sadly, I could find only one picture of her and it was when she was a small child. Her story is out there though. Her life took many amazing twists and turns before she finally found herself and her place in the world. It’s safe to say being rich isn’t everything, at least it wasn’t for her.
Violet, with her wild hair and pretty face, had something hiding behind her lovely eyes. I’m not sure what drew me to her, but once I found her in the crowd, I couldn’t ignore her. I wasn’t introduced to her like I usually am when I make these travels. My awkward self just walked up to her and started grilling her. I’m surprised she didn’t turn and run, but she didn’t and I’m so glad she spoke to me.
Cali: Good evening miss. My name is Cali and I work for the paper.
*I realized here that I couldn’t tell her what paper because I knew I wasn’t in Jaydee and, even so, I didn’t think the paper had been around long enough to name drop it*
Cali: I’m doing interviews of folks around the town for a column on life here. Would you mind if I asked you some questions?
Violet: I suppose not.
Cali: Thank you! What’s your name?
Violet: Violet Ophelia Rebecca Yorke
Cali: Where are you from? Around here?
*I look around ‘here’ trying to figure out where we are*
Violet: I live in New York City not far from Central Park. It’s not far from here.
Cali: I haven’t been in New York long. It’s lovely and the flowers today are gorgeous. I’ve never seen so many pretty flowers. I like the blue ones. Blue is my favorite color. What’s yours?
Violet: Purple.
Cali: Fitting with your name. What do you like to do for fun?
Violet: According to Grandmother, it’s getting into trouble.
Cali: Grandmothers have a way of making us feel a certain way, don’t they? Tell me about her.
Violet: Grandmother has taken care of me since my parents were killed in a bungled robbery but I think it’s more than that.
Cali: I’m really sorry to hear about your parents. What do you think happened?
Violet: I don't think it was a robbery at all. Nothing was stolen! And the police only did a cursory investigation. Grandmother refuses to talk about it, so I know there's more to it.
Cali: Huh. Very intriguing. Who else is in your life?
Violet: There’s Nanette and Bertie. Nanette is kind and beautiful but poor which makes a grand marriage impossible. Bertie is a rogue who drinks too much and gambles away other people’s money. Hugo Hewitt is my patient Godfather, and every gray hair on his head is because of me.
Cali: What’s going on around you in the world today?
Violet: The world is changing far too fast for Grandmother’s liking. If it was up to her, cars would be banned. But I like new things--fast cars especially.
Cali: Sadly for your grandmother, I don’t think they will ever be banned! So tell me, what are your plans for the future?
Violet: To do as I please without worrying about what high society will say.
Cali: It sounds like you’re under a lot of pressure. Is there anything you can do to help you get there?
Violet: Well, for one thing, I have to find out the truth about my parent’s death. Something just doesn’t add up there. And then there are the ghosts, of course. Some are friendly but others are malevolent--the trick is finding out which one they are which can be difficult.
Cali: Ghosts?
*Violet nods*
Cali: You see ghosts?
Violet: I do.
Cali: What’s that like? How long has that been going on? Does your Grandmother know?
Violet: I've been seeing ghosts well, since, forever. Most of the time they don't bother me--or at least, they don't bother with me. And I never gave them too much thought, if I'm being honest--until the night my bedroom caught fire. I certainly didn't do it. That's why Grandmother sent me away.
Cali: Your bedroom caught fire?
Violet: I didn’t do it. Grandmother doesn't want people to know that I see ghosts. Maybe she's afraid of what her friends will say. They already think I'm odd and peculiar.
Cali: I could see how that would be in the way of high society and all that.
Violet: No. Grandmother and the Four Hundred are what’s stopping that.
Cali: The Four Hundred?
*Violet gave me a bit of side-eye at the question. I thought it was something related to the ghosts, my mistake*
Violet: The Four Hundred is a tightly controlled group run by Mrs. Astor. They run New York City’s high society. Mrs. Astor rules with an iron fist. If you aren't on Mrs. Astor's list, you’re shunned.
Cali: Who is Mrs. Astor?
Violet: One of Grandmother’s best friends.
*She looked over her shoulder as someone called her name*
Violet: I really should get going.
Cali: Yes, of course. Thank you so much for speaking with me! You are fascinating!
*I couldn’t tell if the look in her eyes was doubt or gratitude, but she didn’t respond with more than a smile before turning away*
I woke up then. I was disappointed to be out of New York and home. Violet really fascinated me. I did a little digging on the Four Hundred, no wonder Violet was under so much pressure. I was able to find out a lot about her though! The girl even went on to survive the sinking of the Titanic!
Poor little rich girl Violet Yorke has seen ghosts for as long as she can remember, but no one believes her.
Not stodgy Grandmother, who took charge of the heiress after her parents were killed in a failed robbery. Nor kind-hearted Aunt Nanette, or Uncle Bertie, a charming rogue. Not even the patient Hugo Hewitt, Violet’s godfather and trustee of her vast fortune.
Everyone dismissed the child’s insistence about ghosts as a harmless eccentricity—until the night her bedroom caught fire. Violet was promptly sent overseas, fueling her anger and resentment.
Two years later, a rebellious twelve-year-old Violet is on her way back to Manhattan on the doomed Titanic. As the ship sinks into the deep Atlantic Ocean, she’s put in a lifeboat by an apparition who rescued her from the clutches of a jewel thief. Presumed lost at sea, Violet shocks everyone by crashing her own funeral.
Following Violet’s recovery, Grandmother has grand high society designs for the girl, but Violet has other ideas. She’s determined to uncover the secret of what really happened to her parents. Then there’s the mystery of the moon-faced boy at gloomy Dunham Hall and his connection to the ghost on Titanic. Also hot on Violet’s trail is the jewel thief, the specter of her murdered governess, and a vengeful ghost lurking in Violet’s childhood home.
Being a poor little rich girl in 1912 Gotham isn’t all it’s cracked up to be in this delightfully dark and droll supernatural historical fantasy.
If you want to learn more about Violet Ophelia Rebecca Yorke, Author PJ McIlvaine wrote a really great book about her life. You can find it here!
I’d also suggest looking into McIlvaine. You can check out her website, or find her on:
