First published 2014
Lady Daphne Ingham prepares for her presentation at court, the most beautiful daughter of Charles Ingham, sixth Earl of Mowbray. At Cavendon Hall, the imposing Yorkshire estate, two families have coexisted for generations. The aristocratic Inghams live alongside the Swanns who serve them. Walter Swann works as valet to the earl while his wife Alice tends to the countess's wardrobe and sews clothing for the four Ingham daughters. This delicate balance shatters when a devastating event strikes just before Daphne's court debut. The scandal threatens to destroy the Ingham reputation. As World War I approaches, both families face trials that will test bonds forged across centuries. The earl and countess Felicity struggle to protect their six children while Walter and Alice navigate shifting loyalties. Secrets emerge that challenge everything both families believed about their intertwined histories. The war will demand sacrifices that transform servants and masters alike, forcing them to question duties and devotions that once seemed unshakeable.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, 20th-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, secrets
Setting: Cavendon Hall, Yorkshire
Period: World War I
416 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press