1886 North Devon, England
Lady Lilliana Grantley has been seriously
ill with typhoid, a disease that recently claimed her husband Edgar’s life and
that of his long-time lover, Rosemary Gibbs. Now recovering at last, the lady
wastes no tears on her husband but is determined to wreak revenge on his two
illegitimate children.
Embarrassed for years by his affair with Rosemary, a childhood sweetheart
living nearby, she has falsely accused Sir Edgar’s daughter, Millicent, of the
theft of a precious brooch and wants to see her jailed or hung.
Fortunately for Millie and her little brother, Jonathan, their granny, Emily,
insisted they leave home as soon as she heard of Sir Edgar’s death, for she
knew his widow would seek revenge. The old lady was soon proved right, and Lady
Lilliana, furious the two youngsters were nowhere to be found, evicted the old
woman despite the fact she, too, was dangerously ill.
After a long and hazardous journey to North Devon, Millie and Jonathan were
united with some long-lost family members who made them welcome and gave them a
home. However, aware that Lady Lilliana has put a price on Millie’s head, they
know they are not yet out of danger. Despite this, they are determined to find
their granny, Emily, who seems to have disappeared.
Aided by her long-time lover, Sir Clive Robinson, Lady Lilliana is determined
to find Millie and Jonnie and get them out of her life once and for all, but
how far will the embittered woman go?
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***
Snippet
Brampford Speke, a peaceful little
village situated only a few miles from the bustling city of Exeter, would
probably not have existed at all, but for the position of Grantley Manor, for
farm labourers were always in demand on the large and prosperous estate. The
village was surrounded by green rolling hills and picturesque scenery, and
despite the bitter temperature that morning, the vicar was content with his
lot.
Gregory Swann was an elderly man,
born in the village some seventy years earlier and raised to follow in his
father’s footsteps as a man of the cloth. Indeed, he still lived in the same
house he had been born in and knew the only way he would ever want to leave
would be carried out feet first. Kissing Edith, his wife of more than fifty
years, goodbye, he crossed the icy yard to the stable, where he saddled his
pony and set off to visit his parishioners.
Despite his warm hat, scarf, and
gloves, the portly man shivered violently in the sub-zero temperatures, and his
breath hung in the air. The grass and hedgerows glistened with a hard frost,
and ice covered the village pond where a couple of ducks skidded on the
surface, futilely seeking a morsel to eat.
He planned to visit several needy
folk that day, some physically unwell, others depressed with their daily
struggle for survival, and a few simply lonely and who would benefit from
seeing a friendly face. He decided his first port of call would be to Ollie and
Agnes Darch. Shortly before Christmas, the Darches had suffered from
typhoid, a disease which had carried many to their graves, causing him and the
local undertaker much work over the festive period. Thankfully, the couple had
recovered, and the epidemic appeared to be over, but he had heard that Ollie
was now suffering from lumbago.
Marcia Clayton writes
historical fiction with a sprinkling of romance and mystery in a heart-warming
family saga that stretches from the Regency period through to Victorian times.A farmer’s daughter, Marcia was born in North Devon,
a rural and picturesque area in the far South West of England. When she left
school at sixteen, Marcia worked in a bank for several years until she married
her husband, Bryan, and then stayed at home for a few years to care for her
three sons, Stuart, Paul and David.
As the children grew
older, Marcia enrolled in a secretarial course, which led to an administrative
post at the local college. Marcia progressed through various jobs at the
college and, when working as a Transport Project Coordinator, was invited to 10
Downing Street to meet Tony Blair, the then Prime Minister. Marcia later worked
for the local authority as the Education Transport Manager for Devon County
Council and remained there until her retirement.
Now a grandmother, Marcia enjoys spending time with
her family and friends. She’s a keen researcher of family history, and this
hobby inspired some of the characters in her books. A keen gardener, Marcia
grows many of her own vegetables. She is also an avid reader and enjoys
historical fiction, romance, and crime books.
Marcia has written six books in the historical family
saga, "The Hartford Manor Series". You can also read her free short
story, "Amelia", a spin-off tale from the first book, "The
Mazzard Tree", by downloading the story here: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/amelia-free-download/
In addition to writing books, Marcia produces blogs
to share with her readers in a monthly newsletter. If you would like to join
Marcia’s mailing list, you can subscribe here: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/
Author Links:
Website: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarciaC89111861
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Amazon Author Page: http://viewauthor.at/MarciaClayton
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20429025.Marcia_Clayton
