First published 2001
Mary Saunders learns survival early in eighteenth century England. At thirteen, she stitches gowns by day and sells herself by night, using lies as protection while pretending innocence. The beautiful dresses she creates spark dangerous desires. Mary wants to wear silk instead of sewing it, to enter the glittering world of wealth that remains beyond her reach. Her ambitions pull her toward the upper classes, but her circumstances anchor her in London's shadows. When her past catches up, Mary runs to Monmouth, a border town between England and Wales where her mother once lived. She tries to build something new, something clean. But secrets follow faster than hope travels. The life she left behind arrives in her sanctuary, bringing consequences she cannot escape. Events spiral beyond her control as the weight of her choices bears down. Mary's dreams of transformation collide with the reality of who she has become and what she has done to survive.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, adult-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: England, Monmouth, Wales
Period: 18th Century
399 pages · Paperback · Atlas
Content warnings: abuse