A smile spread about Sara’s lips.
‘This is hardly what I expected, Richard ‒ that I should refuse your offer of marriage, and find you not more than mildly disappointed over it.’
He gave a short laugh. ‘I’m not going to say I’m sorry ‒ at least we can be honest with each other now. It will do you good to have a little set-back ‒ you’ve always had men to adore you, and I don’t doubt there’ll be others in the future. But I can’t tell you truthfully that it will break my heart if I don’t have you to disturb my comfortable, pleasant life.’
She threw back her head and laughed. Puzzled, he watched her for a few seconds, and then their own ludicrous position struck him. He began to laugh also; he reached forward and took both her hands, and pulled on them, so that they both rocked a little.
‘Oh, Sara … Sara! That’s what I shall miss when you’re gone. The cosy, comfortable wife of my imagination will never be able to laugh with me like this!’
While she still laughed, he leaned forward and kissed her fully on the lips. Her arms went about him in an embrace, and the laughter was stifled by the kiss.
They were still in each other’s arms, when Lady Fulton opened the door. She took in the identity of the occupants in a glance, and stepped back swiftly.
‘Do forgive me,’ she murmured as she closed the door.
Richard released her slowly. ‘How very tiresome! She’ll talk about it, of course … and when they discover that you’re not going to marry me, I shall be pitied by the whole of London as the disappointed lover.’
V
The first light of the summer dawn lay on Golden Square when Sara returned to it that morning. A heavy-eyed manservant admitted her; she paused on the step for a brief moment to salute Richard, standing still by the carriage. Then the door swung to with a gentle click, and the hall was dim once more. She took the lighted candle the manservant held, bade him good-night, and started up the stairs.
In her bedroom it was dark; she set the candle down on the dressing-table and moved to the windows to draw back the curtains. The soft grey light flooded in; she stood looking down into the square. In a few months this house and this square would be part of her memories of an interlude ‒ memories edged with gilt and parcelled together neatly.
‘I’m going back …’ she whispered aloud. ‘I’m going back.’
That cruel, austere country had won David, Duncan and Elizabeth, as surely as it had won her. It demanded a strange and compelling loyalty, and tolerated no other loves. One loved it, or hated it … but was never indifferent. And once loving it, one could have little patience for the claims of other places. People like Richard hated it ‒ and it was harsh with them. From her, who loved it, it had taken Andrew, Sebastian and finally Louis. Impartial … severe … and lovely when one learned where to look for its beauty.
She sighed, and stretched to relax her taut, excited body. A faint little wind stirred above the housetops. She stepped back from the window and turned around.
Across the room she could see her reflection dimly in a tall pier glass. She tilted her head a little, and stared critically. Then she began to walk slowly towards it. When she stood before it she stretched out her arms and gripped the frame. Slowly she began to examine what she saw ‒ her face with the hair drawn back and dressed elaborately, her shoulders and neck which the cut of the high-waisted gown revealed, her slim body behind the straight, stiff fall of the brocade.
‘Sara … Sara Dane,’ she said quietly to the reflection. ‘It’s time you started to remember that you’ll soon be old.’
Then the corners of her mouth curved into the beginning of a smile. ‘But you’ve some time left yet.’
The Property of a Gentleman by Catherine Gaskin
The Property of a Gentleman … a poignant and thrilling tale of intrigue, mystery and romance, set in the dramatic landscape of England’s Lake District. From the internationally bestselling author Catherine Gaskin.
Shortly after her mother’s death in a Swiss plane crash, Jo Roswell is sent from the London auction house where she works to the remote and mysterious Thirlbeck – stately home of the Earl of Askew. Jo’s task is to evaluate the house’s contents for a sale, but she soon finds herself drawn into the complex lives of Thirlbeck’s past and present inhabitants, each with their own secrets and desires.
Robert Birkett, the Earl of Askew, has returned to Thirlbeck after many years abroad. A decorated war hero, he has also spent time in prison after a fatal car accident for which he was blamed. Carlota, the Spanish Condesa, is the Earl’s sophisticated yet possessive companion.
Meanwhile, Nat Birkett, a distant cousin of the earl, is the reluctant heir to Thirlbeck. A local farmer, his passion is for the land rather than titles and possessions. Following his wife’s mysterious demise at Thirlbeck, he is also the single father of two young boys.
George Tolson is Thirlbeck’s brooding keeper, who jealously guards the property from unwelcome strangers. By Tolson’s side is Jessica, his intelligent but fragile granddaughter, who must be protected from herself.
During her stay, Jo is absorbed by the tragic story of The Spanish Lady, whose young life was cut short at Thirlbeck many centuries before. She also encounters La Española, the brilliant diamond which, according to legend, brings disaster to all who try to possess it. And she is shocked to learn of her own mother’s connection to Thirlbeck.
Jo will struggle with difficult discoveries as she unlocks the puzzles which link Thirlbeck’s past and present residents.
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Learn more about Catherine Gaskin and her other novels at www.catherinegaskin.com
The Lynmara Legacy by Catherine Gaskin
The sweeping saga of two remarkable women, their courage, ambitions, and the men they love ‒ from New York in the Great Depression to England during the Second World War. By the bestselling author of The Property of a Gentleman and Sara Dane.
ANNA ‒ the proud, determined Russian nightclub pianist. She was humiliated and rejected by the English aristocracy, and the man she loved. Anna must make a terrible sacrifice so that her daughter can have the life she herself was denied.
NICOLE ‒ the talented young American who seems destined only to fulfil other people’s ambitions. She plays a celebrated, but reluctant, role in London’s high society. Yet Nicole must keep her family secrets from the one she loves most.
LYNMARA ‒ the ancestral home of Lord Manstone and his dashing son, David. They form the link between past and present, mother and daughter.
A compelling tale of passion and ambition, war and death, and the legacy of a mother’s love.
Praise for The Lynmara Legacy:
‘She tells her story remarkably well.’ Daily Telegraph
‘A compulsive heroine and family saga.’ She
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Learn more about Catherine Gaskin and her other novels at www.catherinegaskin.com
The Summer of the Spanish Woman by Catherine Gaskin
The dramatic blockbuster that takes you from the windy shores of Ireland to the sun-baked earth of Spain; this is a gripping story of family pride, forbidden love, secrets and lies. Beginning at the turn of the last century and spanning the First World War and the Spanish Civil War, The Summer of the Spanish Woman is another spellbinding page-turner from the pen of the bestselling author of The Property of a Gentleman and Sara Dane.
When her grandfather dies without leaving a male heir, Charlotte Drummond and her mother are forced to leave their family home, Clonmara. A distant cousin, Richard Selwin, inherits her grandfather’s estate and the title of Lord Blodmore. He also claims Charlotte’s heart, but a cruel twist of fate prevents them from b
eing together.
Charlotte and her mother begin a new life in the Spanish town of Jerez among the families and vineyards of the great Spanish sherry dynasties. There she discovers the surprising secrets of her grandfather’s younger life, and the mystery surrounding ‘the Summer of the Spanish Woman’ many decades before. As Charlotte learns more about the events of that long-ago summer she realises that its far-reaching consequences stretch into the present. Drawn into a web of deceit and vengeance, her destiny is shaped by both her enemies and her allies in this foreign land. And she must confront Isabel, Marquesa de Pontevedra, whose presence casts light or shadow over those whose lives she seeks to control.
A brilliant family saga which paints a vivid picture of life among the sherry makers of early twentieth century Spain and the turmoil of the Spanish Civil War.
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Learn more about Catherine Gaskin and her other novels at www.catherinegaskin.com
A Falcon for a Queen by Catherine Gaskin
A gripping story of romance and mystery set in Victorian Scotland.
After the death of her father, Kirsty Howard leaves their home in China and travels to be with her mother's family in the Scottish Highlands. It is here that her brother William has also recently died ‒ after a hunting accident. With her Kirsty carries a scroll sent by William from his deathbed, with a cryptic message ‘She has killed …’
Arriving at Cluain, the old house and whisky distillery owned by her grandfather, Kirsty is drawn to the mysterious and moody Callum Sinclair, who roams the moors with his majestic falcon. She also meets the other people who had known William ‒ the forbidding housekeeper, Mairi Sinclair; the friendly young maid, Morag; and Sir Gavin Campbell and his beautiful wife, Margaret. Over time, Kirsty learns the parts these strangers played in her brother’s life, and how her own fate is bound up by the places and people of this remote land. But nothing can prepare her for the truth that must be revealed.
An atmospheric story of secrets, passion and family duty.
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Learn more about Catherine Gaskin and her other novels at www.catherinegaskin.com
The Wine Widow by Tessa Barclay
A gripping family saga – the first in the captivating Wine Widow trilogy. A compelling tale of one woman’s triumphs and tragedies which you will not be able to put down.
Young peasant girl Nicole Berthois works hard to support her family in a wine-making village in Champagne. Her life changes forever when she falls in love with handsome aristocrat Philippe de Tramont. The young lovers marry despite his mother’s objections, and Nicole’s strength and determination help her husband to follow his dreams. But then tragedy strikes; Philippe is killed and Nicole must struggle to raise their two small children as a young widow. She faces many challenges as she tries to win her mother-in-law’s approval, and build her husband’s legacy into a great champagne dynasty. But will illicit passions, war and a shocking family secret destroy all she has worked to achieve?
‘Tessa Barclay always spins a fine yarn. Her novels are gripping and entertaining.’ Wendy Craig
‘Filled with fascinating historical detail and teeming with human passions.’ Marie Joseph
‘A red hot contender for the Romantic Novelist of the Year Award.’ Daily Mirror
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Lily’s Daughter by Diana Raymond
A poignant coming of age story set in 1930s England, told with warmth and wit.
“Diana Raymond is an observant, sensitive writer whose characters come alive.’ The Daily Telegraph
Seventeen year old Jessica Mayne suddenly finds herself alone and unable to pay her rent, when a chance discovery leads to help from unexpected quarters. A new life beckons, while Jessica learns about past family secrets, and falls in love for the first time, all under the shadow of the advancing war in Europe.
Being Lily’s daughter has never been easy. Jessica has long had to cope with her mother’s fragile mental state, and a hand to mouth existence. When she finally makes the decision to have her mother committed, Jessica must face an uncertain future alone.
But there is the promise of a different kind of life when Jessica arrives at Huntersmeade, the home of her estranged Aunt Imogen. It is here that she meets her dashing cousin, Guy, and Deirdre, the wealthy young woman he is expected to marry. Meanwhile, Imogen’s house-guest Aaron, a Polish Jew, has a deeper understanding than the English youngsters of how the world they know will soon change forever.
For Jessica, there will be difficult lessons to learn about her family’s secrets, and how falling in love for the first time can be a bitter-sweet experience with far-reaching consequences.
Diana Raymond was the author of 24 novels, theatre criticism and poems. She was married to the celebrated novelist Ernest Raymond. Her most popular novel Lily’s Daughter is now reprinted in an ebook edition for the first time.
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Hardacre by CL Skelton
Hardacre is the sweeping rags to riches story of the Hardacre family. This dramatic family saga follows generations of the Hardacres from Victorian times to the 1950s. Set against the backdrop of major historical events, Hardacre traces the family’s humble beginnings to their position of great wealth.
Sam Hardacre makes a tough yet honest living as a fish gutter. But he has ambitions for a life far removed from the harsh existence on the quays of the north English coast. Through drive and determination he builds a business empire and amasses a fortune. His wife, Mary, once a poor street urchin, must learn to adapt to her new role as mistress of a grand house in Yorkshire.
Sam’s sons, Joe and Harry, inherit some but not all of their father’s qualities. Their opposing personalities lead them to make very different choices about their futures. Meanwhile, their younger sister, Jane, is born into a life of privilege and has no experience of her family’s early struggles.
The three siblings and their offspring will know love, hate, passion and tragedy, as they live through the dramatic events of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The lives of the Hardacres are shaped by the extraordinary events of the Boer War, the Great War, the Wall Street Crash, the Second World War, Hitler’s Germany and the London Blitz.
Hardacre is a gripping page-turner; a tale of ambition, fate and family ties.
Praise for the bestselling Hardacre:
‘History comes alive … innocents, rascals and middling humans ‒ an authentic bunch to set against tempestuous times.’ Publishers Weekly
‘This skilfully written, always entertaining family saga … rich in plot, pace and character … polished storytelling.’ Newsagent and Bookshop
‘The best family saga since Penmarric.’ Manchester Evening News
For fans of rich and dramatic family sagas from the Forsyte Saga to Downton Abbey.
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Wonder Cruise by Ursula Bloom
Your perfect summer holiday read – Ann Clements dares to dream of a more adventurous life when she takes a Mediterranean cruise. But when it is over, can there be any going back?
‘A delightfully charming novel, which I adored!’ Rather Too Fond of Books
‘Gorgeous escapism … I absolutely loved this.’ Mrs K A Wheatley (Top 500 Amazon reviewer)
This warm and witty story is a cha
rming portrait of an unforgettable 1930’s woman; Ann Clements will stay with you long after the last page.
Ann Clements is thirty-five and single, and believes nothing exciting will ever happen to her. Then, she wins a large sum of money in a sweepstake and suddenly can dare to dream of a more adventurous life. She buys a ticket for a Mediterranean cruise, against the wishes of her stern brother, the Rev. Cuthbert, who has other ideas about how she should spend her windfall. Ann steps out of the shadows of her mundane life into the heat of the Mediterranean sun. Travelling to Gibraltar, Marseilles, Naples, Malta and Venice, Ann’s eyes are opened to people and experiences far removed from her sheltered existence in the offices at Henrietta Street, and Mrs. Puddock’s lodging house. As Ann blossoms, discovering love and passion for the very first time, the biggest question is, can there be any going back?
‘Brightly told and very readable.’ Woman’s Journal
‘… with every book she adds something to her reputation … related with all Miss Bloom’s liveliness and easy skill.’ Daily Telegraph
‘Ursula Bloom writes in a delightful way, with a deep understanding of human nature and a quick eye for the humorous things in life. Wonder Cruise … is one of the most entertaining novels we have read for a long time.’ Cambridge Daily News
‘Vividly entrancing.’ Scotsman
‘She has always been able to tell a story … Miss Bloom is to be heartily congratulated.’ Everyman
Now available as an ebook and in paperback from Amazon.
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