Mrs. England

"At Home. With the Family." West Yorkshire, 1904. When Ruby May, a newly graduated governess, accepts the job of caring for the children of wealthy Charles England and his wife, Lillian England, heirs to a major factory tycoon family, she hopes it will be the fresh start she needs. But as she settles into life at the remote Hardcastle estate, she discovers that something is amiss with the beautiful and enigmatic Lady England. Aloof and self-absorbed, Lillian shows little interest in her children or her attractive husband, and is far from the ideal wife Ruby had envisioned. While the warm and lively Charles welcomes Ruby into the family, a series of strange events forces her to question everything she thought she knew. As the servants shun her and she grows increasingly anxious when her sister stops sending news of the family, Ruby finds herself compelled to confront her fears lest history repeat itself. After all, she knows better than anyone that there is no such thing as a perfect family. With its gripping plot, *The Lady of England* portrays marriage in the Edwardian era, weaving a captivating tale of men and women, power and control, courage, truth, and deceit at its darkest. This third novel by Stacey Halls, set amidst the breathtaking landscapes of West Yorkshire, confirms her status as one of the most compelling and enchanting new novelists of our time.