Dowry: Volume 1: Family Circle

by Michael Flynn

Historically based conspiracy commencing a few months before the start of WW2. It follows the fortunes of the family of the Marquis of Stornfield their friends enemies and associates as they struggle to do their duty, in a world collapsing around them. They exist in a shadowy world of intrigue,espionage and opportunism. A way of life is slowly condemned as a historical footnote, a changing world that they have to live in, love in and adapt to or die. The story focuses on what was happening during the phoney war from the outbreak of the war until the events of April and May as the continent rapidly fell under the hand of the greatest menace to civilization the world has known. Imogene Gerard, used by her mother as bait to attract young men to satisfy her own pleasure meets Edgar the second son of the Marquis an academic she meets at Oxford. She fools Edgar as to her innocence into marriage and finds difficulty in managing her Capricious flirty nature, she fantasizes over her husband's younger brother Teddy. She falls victim to her character flaws engaging in an affair with her husband's elder brother Lord Edward the heir to the title and is impregnated by him. Her attempts to fob off the child on her husband leads to a crisis in their marriage as she discovers her husband's hidden qualities. The whole dynamic of the family is irrevocably changed. Imogene's incredible nosiness coupled with her gift of insight leads her to discover some of the families skeletons and secrets. The widow Helen the other child of the Marquis, curses the fact she will never be Marchioness she lusts after Teddy's flatmate Herbert Robinson who is similarly smitten. Helen worries that her four children from her deceased husband, American Lloyd Banting will deter Herbert a former legal eagle with a past who currently is employed as an investigative journalist by the Daily Sentinel. Helen discovers by accident that her late husband has links to Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky senior American gangsters and is afraid to investigate further. Teddy Donovan's complicated love life and his secret affair with Elizabeth Rhodes his employers personal assistant is doomed when he is assigned to Paris to play gigolo to the former Wallis Simpson and takes up with Coco Chanel a suspected German sympathiser. Their employer Stewart Menzies is head of SIS and operates a policy of non fraternization amongst his officers, suspects Elizabeth the daughter of a former comrade in arms is having an affair and wonders who is the lucky man. Unknown to Imogene her husband Edgar is a talent scout for the SIS is drawn into the organisation at the outbreak of war which brings her onto Stewart's map as he struggles to expand his force to suit the demands of the new emergency. Elizabeth and Teddy are star crossed lovers and in a fit of pique she commences an affair with Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich Romanov as he aspires to succeed to the throne of Russia another element of the conspiracy to restore the Duke of Windsor to the throne. Herbert is recruited as the search for home grown traitors is extended as more senior government players become suspect. Lord Edward leaves Imogene holding the baby and she is forced to reconciliation with her husband guided by her critical mother. Edgar explains his options and she finally critically confronts her demons.She realises that when she married Edgar she left behind a job vacancy as his mistress. This unforeseen dynamic radically changes her behavior. Can she contain the forces unleashed within her to satisfy her spouse's sceptical credulity and avoid the consequences of his list of options Elizabeth dreams of kick starting the Russian dynasty with her wayward and reticent Russian lover. The Marquis tries to establish a dialogue with his diverse band. Vol 2 indicates the consequences of the choices made by the characters as the war gets under-way for real and takes them into danger for King and Country. I hope you enjoy reading this

559 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2013

About the author

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Michael Francis Flynn (born 1947) is an American statistician and science fiction author. Nearly all of Flynn's work falls under the category of hard science fiction, although his treatment of it can be unusual since he has applied the rigor of hard science fiction to "softer" sciences such as sociology in works such as In the Country of the Blind. Much of his short fiction has appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact.

Flynn was born in Easton, Pennsylvania. He earned a B.A. in Mathematics from LaSalle University and an M.S. in topology from Marquette University. He has been employed as an industrial quality engineer and statistician.

Library of Congress authorities: Flynn, Michael (Michael F.)