Mansions of Fire

A beautiful historical setting of manor opulence most befits wealthy Pierre and Andrea Fontenot, a French rice family near New Orleans, Louisiana in 1861. An only daughter, Gabrielle, feisty and sullenly beautiful, is the princess and heir-to-be of a vast estate that her father named Chateau Villa.
Apart from his family, Pierre's only other interest is horse racing. No other wealthy rice manor family in the region could compete with the Fontenot's for rice harvest yields and acquired horse race betting wealth.
Everything changes when a much lower income, new out-of-state railroad transferee abolitionist family takes possession of a white washed stately mansion, about a mile away from the edge of Chateau Villa.
A rugged young man named Ben Chesser lives there with his religiously strong family. His value interest is also fast horses and huge betting races.
Political ties, historical family values and loyalty are all challenged once Ben and Gabrielle get acquainted.
How can two families so vastly different accept a relationship as such? Can there be a compromise, or are values too steeped to be changed? What can the young couple get from each other to insure future stability? How can the much different now-fearful families survive in the occupation of an invading Union Army?