When she was twelve, her family moved to Boston in the United States, where she was given a remarkable education, with the arts and languages playing an important role.

Their relationship deepened rapidly because, just like Ferdinand II, the singer had a passion for sculpture, ceramics, painting, architecture and gardening.

On 10 June 1869, Elise married morganatically, in Benfica (Lisbon), the former King Ferdinand II of Portugal, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

In order for the Countess to maintain these estates, King Charles I of Portugal had to pay her the amount of 410 million réis.

At her funeral, the dowager queen Amélie of Orléans and the ex-king Manuel II of Portugal, were represented by the Viscount of Asseca.