Today it's my pleasure to be shining the debut spotlight on Annabel Fielding whose debut novel A Pearl for My Mistress was published last week.
Annabel Fielding, having graduated from the University of Arts London with an MA in Public Relations, is a PR assistant by day and a novelist by night. Being a self-professed history geek, she dedicates her free time to obscure biographies, solo travel and tea.She also posts a mix of book reviews and travel photos on her blog at http://historygeekintown.com
Despite their impressive title and glorious past, the Fitzmartins are crumbling under the pressures of the new century. And in the cold isolation of these new surroundings, Hester ends up hopelessly besotted with her young mistress, Lady Lucy.
Accompanying Lucy on her London Season, Hester is plunged into a heady and decadent world. But hushed whispers of another war swirl beneath the capital… and soon, Hester finds herself the keeper of some of society’s most dangerous secrets…
To give you a taster of A Pearl for My Mistress you can read an extract from the Prologue below which is set in London in May 1933.
'You are going to give me the keys to your holiday home?' Charity asked with disbelief in her voice. Lucy shared her perplexity.
'Why not?' Nora shrugged. 'As I've said, no one is going to live there for some time. Father and Lady Isabelle are planning to spend this autumn in France.'
Eleanor almost never spoke of anyone with open bitterness. However, Sir Frederick Palmer's second wife was never a 'mother' or even a 'stepmother' - always 'Lady Isabelle'.
'If you are sure that it will cause you no trouble...' Charity still sounded doubtful.
'Absolutely not!' Nora reached across the table to squeeze her hand. Charity flinched almost imperceptibly. Lucy could understand that - Nora was charming, but her propensity for touching people like that always came across as a little startling.
'You are an angel. I only hope the new government won't take offence at my visit.'
'Oh, that's probably the last thing you should worry about.'
'Well, people are telling all sorts of stories.'
