First published 2017
Sylvia faces an arranged match with a suitor chosen by her father. She refuses to accept this man sight unseen. Instead, she convinces her maid to switch roles so she can observe him without revealing her true identity. The suitor arrives with his manservant, but he too wants to judge his potential bride honestly. He switches places with his servant. Now Sylvia believes she has fallen for a servant while the disguised suitor thinks he loves a maid. Each couple struggles with what they perceive as forbidden attraction across class lines. Sylvia's father watches the confusion unfold as both pairs navigate their misunderstood desires. The deception creates complications that force everyone to question what they truly want versus what society expects. Love emerges from this tangle of mistaken identities.
Genres: drama, romance, historical-fiction, 20th-century, comedy, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forbidden-romance, mistaken-identity
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century
80 pages · Paperback · Faber & Faber