Born in Singapore, MARY NICHOLS came to England when she was three, and has spent most of her life in different parts of East Anglia. She has been a radiographer, school secretary, information officer and industrial editor, as well as a writer. She has three grown-up children, and four grandchildren.
Recent novels by the same author:
RAGS-TO-RICHES BRIDE
THE EARL AND THE HOYDEN
CLAIMING THE ASHBROOKE HEIR (part of The Secret Baby Bargain)
HONOURABLE DOCTOR, IMPROPER ARRANGEMENT
THE CAPTAINâS MYSTERIOUS LADY*
THE VISCOUNTâS UNCONVENTIONAL BRIDE*
*Part of The Piccadilly Gentlemenâs Club mini-series
Rosamund looked about her at the mourners, standing with glass in hand, or slowly perambulating the drawing room of her Holles Street home, and wondered why they had all come. They could surely not expect a bequest for everyone knew Sir Joshua had frittered away a fortune. Perhaps they hoped to pick up a little gossip, something to pass on over the teacups when they next met their friends. Her fatherâs death had been sudden and violent and surely there was more to learn about that?
He had been found in Tyburn Lane in the early hours of the morning, evidently on his way home after a night out. Everything pointed to him having been run down by a vehicle, which had not stopped. âRolling drunk,â everyone said. âNot looking where he was going.â
Maximilian, her brother, had been closeted with the family lawyer in the library for the best part of an hour, leaving Rosamund to attend to their guests alone. There were some cousins she hardly knew, fancy people who looked down on her, whispering amongst themselves, calling her an ape leader and plain to boot and hoping they wouldnât be expected to give her house room. A few of her fatherâs acquaintances had turned up to offer condolences and no doubt to find out their chances of being paid what was owed to them. No one truly mourned the passing of the irascible man, except his daughter. Rosamund had kept house for him ever since her mother died seven years before and, believing he needed her, had never married. At twenty-six, she considered herself well and truly on the shelf.
âWhat are you going to do now, Rosamund?â Aunt Jessica interrupted her reverie. Mrs Jessica Bullivant was her fatherâs sister. She was dressed in a black silk mourning gown; its caged hips made her look broader than she was tall.
âI expect I shall stay here, at least for a time.â
âHere, child? You cannot live alone.â
âI will not be alone. I shall keep Cook and Janet.â
âThey are servants. No, Rosamund, it is not to be thought of. I know someone who might offer you the post of companion. Of course it will not pay much, but you will have bed and board and little enough to do. After looking after Joshua, it will be childâs play.â
âCompanion!â Rosamund shuddered at the thought. She was outspoken and used to her independence and there was no one less independent than a paid companion at the beck and call of her employer twenty-four hours a day. âNo, thank you, Aunt. I am sure Papa will have made provision for me. There will be enough for me to live frugally without having to resort to paid employment.â
âI doubt that. Everyone knows my brother was a profligate. Did he ever give you anything more than pin money?â
âI did not need anything.â
Her aunt snorted at this loyalty. âBeing companion to a lady is better than unpaid employment, which is what you have been doing for the past seven years.â
âI did what any daughter worth her salt would do.â
âAnd now you are long past marriageable age.â
âI know that, Aunt. I have no expectations in that direction. I shall do good works.â
Her aunt laughed at that, causing everyone else in the room to stop talking and turn to look at them. She immediately became serious and put on a mournful expression. âIf I did not have my dear Miss Davies to look after me, I would take you in myself, but I would not, for the world, hurt her feelings. And truly my little house in Chandos Street is not large enough to accommodate us all.â
âI know that, Aunt, but I thank you all the same. I shall manage.â The last thing she wanted was to move in with her domineering relative.