First published 2027
Etheldreda stands in her decaying manor, watching her two daughters practice their curtsies while her stepdaughter tends to a sharp-clawed peregrine falcon. Widowed twice, she struggles to maintain the illusion of prosperity that might attract suitable husbands for her girls. The grand exterior of their home masks the crumbling reality within, much like Etheldreda's carefully constructed facade of respectability. When the royal court announces a ball, she sees her chance to secure invitations for her daughters. She risks everything she has left, only to watch her neglected stepdaughter capture the prince's attention instead. As the engagement proceeds with alarming speed, Etheldreda uncovers dark secrets within the royal family. She faces an impossible choice between the financial security she has desperately pursued and protecting the stepdaughter who has consistently rejected her efforts. This story reveals the fierce devotion of a mother willing to sacrifice everything for her children's welfare.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century, 19th-century, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Manor, Royal Court
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century
368 pages · Paperback · St. Martin's Griffin