But terrible scandal has followed Ada's beloved father all the way from India. Still, she can't help but wonder what her life might have been had she been born a lady, like Ada.įor the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their majestic ancestral estate. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like Somerton.
Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of ladies' maid. Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley treats Rose as an equal. Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Is there any hope for Ravi and Ava? What other secrets glide through Somerton’s elegant halls? Must Ava marry someone, just to keep the estate intact?Īs upstairs murmurs and belowstairs whispers collide, more stories At Somerton will follow this debut tale of keeping up appearances, societal expectations, and scandalously delicious secrets.One house, two worlds. The clandestine letters between Ravi and Ava, hinting of violence against the British in India, go through Rose’s hands…
The ladies’ maid to the new Lady Westlake hints strongly that learning secrets is the best way to get ahead in this world. Music just flows through her veins, but a country girl like her could never afford piano lessons. When Rose Cliffe is promoted to ladies’ maid for Ava and Georgiana, she’s sad that her evenings at the piano in the friendly servants’ sitting room are over. Never mind that Ava wants to attend Oxford, wants to think for herself, wants to think at all! And Ravi is at Oxford, might even visit London… Suddenly, Lady Ava and Lady Georgiana will have brothers and another sister (so jealous of everyone), plus a fashionable stepmother who will steer Ava through the intricacies of the London Season to find a husband. Cliffe whose daughter is now a housemaid. The suddenness of the wedding and so many guests descending on quiet Somerton has the servants running to and fro, especially housekeeper Mrs. How dreadful for her father to leave India under a cloud of suspicion after his distinguished career there! Now they are returning to their family estate with her sister Georgiana so that he can marry a wealthy and beautiful widow to keep it afloat for now. People would be shocked if they discovered that she’d kissed a man before her debutante season, utterly appalled if they found out he was Indian! High society and propriety will encircle Ava’s life in 1910 once the ship reaches England, but an accidental (and unchaperoned) meeting on deck leaves her breathless, hopeful, and confused.
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