Gentlemen of Orleans Parish
Where the names carry weight, the rivalries run deep, and the affections are as much about strategy as sincerity.
These gentlemen arrive perfectly tailored and scandal-adjacent—each one carrying a legacy, a reputation, and a well-rehearsed alibi.
Their loyalties are ancient, their flirtations are deliberate, and their declarations are usually made after midnight, often in private, and never without consequences.
They are known for their wealth, their wit, and their ability to turn a garden stroll into a declaration of war.
No one is ever truly neutral.
Nor has anyone claimed to be.
Due to an unfortunate editorial dispute—and two strongly worded letters, one of which was delivered by horse—the following gentlemen are presented in no particular order, with equal regard and absolutely no bias (per legal request).
The Editor would like to clarify that any appearance of favoritism is purely a formatting coincidence, and not the result of veiled threats, citrus deliveries, or anonymous poetry left on her doorstep.
Mr. Michel Defour
of Chêne Blanc, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Known For:
Flirting with his cousin (successfully), slipping out of obligations with an impeccable grin, and offering deeply insightful commentary on estate finances… just before excusing himself to "investigate" the refreshments—or the whereabouts of an unattended fan.
Status:
Unmarried. Open to negotiation. Frequently seen slipping out a side door—sometimes with a dance partner, sometimes with a bottle of brandy, and occasionally with both.
Rumored to have left more than one heart—and more than one reticule—forgotten on a garden bench.
“Romance is a risk I’m quite willing to finance—though I recommend diversifying one’s affections.”
Editor's Note:
Once rebuked in front of the entire congregation and bowed like it was a standing ovation. Suspected of anonymously funding the choir’s new hymnals—allegedly to avoid attending rehearsals. Remains his mother’s favorite.
Assessment:
Capable of imbibing an air of responsibility when his mother is watching; otherwise unfit for sainthood, unbothered by judgment, and flattered, of course, to be described as equal measures charming and chaotic—though he’d argue “chaotic” is simply charisma without a chaperone.
you misunderstood everything else.
Mr. Manuel Rivera
of Hacienda Ofrenda, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Known For:
Devotion to duty, immaculate horsemanship, and a smile so carefully practiced it could win treaties—or break hearts. Will escort your grandmother to her pew, compliment your father’s estate management, and serenade you beneath your window—regardless of how many flights up you are.
Status:
Unmarried. Universally admired by mothers, priests, and chaperones. Occasionally suspected of courting tradition itself more faithfully than any woman in particular.
“My sister claims I might fare better if I listened more and spoke less. I have assured her she is mistaken.”
Editor’s Note:
The sort of gentleman who arrives early, knows your father's full name, and bows like he's offering more than respect—he's offering safety. Has broken only one heart—his own—and would likely apologize for causing you the trouble of noticing.
Assessment:
Steadfast, loyal, and raised to do the right thing—even when it costs him what he wants most. Falls too easily for the idea of a perfect life, and mistakes propriety for happiness more often than he should. Would make an exceptional husband—once he learns that love, unlike duty, requires surrender, not strategy.
Mr. Francisco Rivera
of Hacienda Ofrenda, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Known For:
Elegant dismantling of reputations, courtesy so polished it leaves bruises, and the ability to command a room with nothing more than a raised eyebrow. Once called "polite" by a man who did not realize he'd been publicly eviscerated—until the applause.
Status:
Unmarried. Officially married to his work. Unofficially—subjects of interest are noted, never confirmed.
“It is rarely necessary to humiliate a man. A properly chosen word will let him do it himself.”
Editor’s Note:
The sort of gentleman who could argue you out of your fortune before breakfast, and leave you thanking him for the lesson. Accused of being cold; in truth, simply uninterested in performances that do not serve an outcome.
Assessment:
Impeccably composed. Dangerously articulate. Wields reputation, rumor, and rhetoric with lethal precision. Further details classified—pending investigation.
Mr. Miguel Rivera
of Hacienda Ofrenda, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Known For:
Unnervingly steady aim, quiet charm, and a habit of winning things he doesn't stay to celebrate. The youngest Rivera son—gentler than he looks, sharper than he allows most to see. Once won a shooting competition, accepted the medal with a blush, and disappeared before the applause. Known to rescue strays and fell grown men with a rifle.
Status:
Unmarried. Quietly noticed. Frequently vanishes before a conversation can turn too personal. Susceptible to sincere compliments—and utterly defenseless against genuine kindness.
“I don’t miss. I simply prefer not to be seen aiming.”
Editor’s Note:
Raised by his sister, which accounts for the good manners and quiet guilt. Carries responsibility like a second skin, and heartbreak like a secret. Seems lighter than he is—until you notice the shadows he doesn't speak of.
Assessment:
Still waters run deep—and sometimes, quietly dangerous. Would make an excellent husband, provided you can catch him before he slips away, smiling and apologizing for the inconvenience.
Mr. Leander Doucet
of Mobile, Alabama (residing in New Orleans, Louisiana)
Known For:
Mysterious silences, philosophical musings, and the slow, wry smile of a man carrying too much history—and offering too few answers.
In public, a courteous enigma; in private, a memory waiting to happen — were he not just out of reach.
Status:
Allegedly unattached. Though one should never assume.
"The heart was never meant to be cautious. I only wish mine had been slower to believe it."
Editor’s Note:
The type of man to quote Byron while bleeding from a gunshot wound—as he insists it is only a scratch, and more importantly, not your concern.
Assessment:
A philosopher by inclination, a scoundrel by circumstance, and a ghost of himself by his own choosing. Best admired from a safe distance, though good sense rarely wins where he is concerned.