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The Cousins of the Aristocracy #1
The Promise of a Gentleman
When it comes to matchmaking, the obvious choice doesn't always lead to love. Will the third time be the charm?
Orphaned at sixteen, Emma Fitzsimmons lives at the London finishing school her late father, George, arranged for her to attend. With no prospects for marriage but having experience as a bookkeeper at her father's hat shop, Emma decides to pursue a position as an accomptant. But who will hire a woman in 1802 London?
Her roommate's brother, Thomas Welllingham, inherited his father's import company and quickly expanded operations to include a way to transport goods across Great Britain. Convinced someone is embezzling from Wellingham Imports, he solicits advice from his banker, Sir William Burroughs.
Charged with Emma's financial welfare, Sir William recommends Thomas hire her to audit his books. Thomas does so, arranging for her to work at his manor in Chiswick and be a companion to his sister Christiana. And he may have just the man for Emma.
Todd Vandermeer, a wealthy broker with the East India Company, has decided to marry. His apparent low birth and excessive height make courting awkward, although once he meets Emma, he's sure she's the one for him. Emma's best friend Deborah, a midwife at a home for unwed mothers, may be a better choice, though. The tall, willowy woman has an unfortunate past that may prove too much to overcome, although not in a way she expects.
Emma's new landlords, an older couple who are rather overt in their affection for one another, seem intent on introducing her to the wealthy Gregory Grandby. With a reputation as a rake, Gregory has already made his choice in a future wife, a young lady who is rather good at keeping secrets—especially him.
With one couple having found love despite their class differences and three couples looking to find love, one banker is determined to see it all work out in his favor. Or will it be the butler who prevails in the epic Regency "The Promise of a Gentleman?"
Orphaned at sixteen, Emma Fitzsimmons lives at the London finishing school her late father, George, arranged for her to attend. With no prospects for marriage but having experience as a bookkeeper at her father's hat shop, Emma decides to pursue a position as an accomptant. But who will hire a woman in 1802 London?
Her roommate's brother, Thomas Welllingham, inherited his father's import company and quickly expanded operations to include a way to transport goods across Great Britain. Convinced someone is embezzling from Wellingham Imports, he solicits advice from his banker, Sir William Burroughs.
Charged with Emma's financial welfare, Sir William recommends Thomas hire her to audit his books. Thomas does so, arranging for her to work at his manor in Chiswick and be a companion to his sister Christiana. And he may have just the man for Emma.
Todd Vandermeer, a wealthy broker with the East India Company, has decided to marry. His apparent low birth and excessive height make courting awkward, although once he meets Emma, he's sure she's the one for him. Emma's best friend Deborah, a midwife at a home for unwed mothers, may be a better choice, though. The tall, willowy woman has an unfortunate past that may prove too much to overcome, although not in a way she expects.
Emma's new landlords, an older couple who are rather overt in their affection for one another, seem intent on introducing her to the wealthy Gregory Grandby. With a reputation as a rake, Gregory has already made his choice in a future wife, a young lady who is rather good at keeping secrets—especially him.
With one couple having found love despite their class differences and three couples looking to find love, one banker is determined to see it all work out in his favor. Or will it be the butler who prevails in the epic Regency "The Promise of a Gentleman?"
742 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2014
19 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Linda Rae Sande
124 books425 followersA self-described nerd and lover of science, Linda Rae spent many years as a published technical writer specializing in 3D graphics workstations, software and 3D animation (her movie credits include SHREK and SHREK 2). An interest in genealogy led to years of research on the Regency era and a desire to write fiction based in that time.
A fan of action-adventure movies, she can frequently be found at the local cinema. Although she no longer has any fish, she follows the San Jose Sharks. She makes her home in Cody, Wyoming. More information about her books can be found at www.lindaraesande.com.
A fan of action-adventure movies, she can frequently be found at the local cinema. Although she no longer has any fish, she follows the San Jose Sharks. She makes her home in Cody, Wyoming. More information about her books can be found at www.lindaraesande.com.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 31, 2023
Great to find a book of this genre more than 150 pages long, I do enjoy sitting down to a weighty tome.
Think this is the first of a set of linked books, am looking forward to reading the rest.
The Book focuses on three young courting couples and an older married pair, all related, although some more strenuously than others. Set in late eighteenth, early nineteenth century, three men from differing backgrounds, friends since children, finding their special person.
The Book is quite 'busy' with separate strands for each couple, a few contradictions - Emma's horse is a mate referred to as he, meal names inconsistent and in places wrong, Gregory takes his mother out for lunch, and when they meet a cousin asks him to join them for supper. Little niggles.
I nearly gave up so many times, and wondered why I'd bought the first five books in one go, but each time something caught my interest. Am pleased I persisted as I enjoyed the book once I got used to the style of writing.
Think this is the first of a set of linked books, am looking forward to reading the rest.
The Book focuses on three young courting couples and an older married pair, all related, although some more strenuously than others. Set in late eighteenth, early nineteenth century, three men from differing backgrounds, friends since children, finding their special person.
The Book is quite 'busy' with separate strands for each couple, a few contradictions - Emma's horse is a mate referred to as he, meal names inconsistent and in places wrong, Gregory takes his mother out for lunch, and when they meet a cousin asks him to join them for supper. Little niggles.
I nearly gave up so many times, and wondered why I'd bought the first five books in one go, but each time something caught my interest. Am pleased I persisted as I enjoyed the book once I got used to the style of writing.
December 6, 2021
Really good book. I enjoyed the romances between three different couples that were all friends. I would have given this a 5-star rating but it was just too busy for me. Keeping up with three intertwining stories was a little much. In the end I did enjoy it.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read
Entertaining
Happily Ever After
Page-turner
Steamy
Witty
Wonderful characters
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read
Entertaining
Happily Ever After
Page-turner
Steamy
Witty
Wonderful characters
March 1, 2015
2.5/5.0
“The Promise of a Gentleman” is a smoothly written but extremely long first book of a series.
Read full review in the 2015 March issue of InD’tale Magazine.
“The Promise of a Gentleman” is a smoothly written but extremely long first book of a series.
Read full review in the 2015 March issue of InD’tale Magazine.
March 30, 2020
I enjoyed reading this story with twists and turns. Also had humor and love and was a true novel (long)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews