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Lovers & Cheats
Alice Edwards, Dorset-born and newly wed to Henry Jerrard, arrives at her married home, the run-down manor of High Stoke in Surrey to find a dysfunctional household beset by jealousies and resentments.
Alice resists the efforts of the steward Isabel, anxious for Henry’s attention, to browbeat her, and instead concentrates on getting to know her household. Allan, coachman and general labourer, and Grace the new dairymaid, are clearly in love. But while Grace is away nursing her sick mother, Allan proposes to Sylvia, beautiful, work-shy and ambitious for a marriage that will raise her to a life of ease. The sudden betrothal sets Alice wondering about this ill-matched pair.
Within days a split opens between Alice and her husband as they argue how to make ends meet on their failing estate.
When Sylvia is found dead, the coroner swiftly accuses Allan. That night Allan escapes and disappears. Convinced he is being made a scapegoat, Alice offers her help to local Justice Egerton in his search for the truth. Rumours arise of great riches discovered by Sylvia, and the list of suspects widens.
Then Grace disappears. The fugitive Allan is caught near her body, and things look bad for him. Alice and Henry, struggling to close the gap in their marriage, find themselves overtaken by the unfolding solution to Sylvia’s death. The revelation is exacerbated by the coroner who has his own axe to grind. Hard on the heels of this comes a tragedy that will change life for everyone at High Stoke.
Alice resists the efforts of the steward Isabel, anxious for Henry’s attention, to browbeat her, and instead concentrates on getting to know her household. Allan, coachman and general labourer, and Grace the new dairymaid, are clearly in love. But while Grace is away nursing her sick mother, Allan proposes to Sylvia, beautiful, work-shy and ambitious for a marriage that will raise her to a life of ease. The sudden betrothal sets Alice wondering about this ill-matched pair.
Within days a split opens between Alice and her husband as they argue how to make ends meet on their failing estate.
When Sylvia is found dead, the coroner swiftly accuses Allan. That night Allan escapes and disappears. Convinced he is being made a scapegoat, Alice offers her help to local Justice Egerton in his search for the truth. Rumours arise of great riches discovered by Sylvia, and the list of suspects widens.
Then Grace disappears. The fugitive Allan is caught near her body, and things look bad for him. Alice and Henry, struggling to close the gap in their marriage, find themselves overtaken by the unfolding solution to Sylvia’s death. The revelation is exacerbated by the coroner who has his own axe to grind. Hard on the heels of this comes a tragedy that will change life for everyone at High Stoke.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2014
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