In Chapter Twelve, after Mrs. Hanrahan leaves, Delphine tells Tilly that she is a product of the New Orleans practice of "placage". Explain.

In Chapter 12, Delphine explains to Tilly that she is a product of the New Orleans practice of plaçage. The practice, found only in New Orleans, sees a wealthy white man become involved with a free, independent black woman, father one or more children by her, and set them all up in a high-status home. She adds that had it not been for the war, she might already have a white man of her own.