False Pretences is the story of a young girl's search to find out who her parents are, and the gentleman who helps her.
False Pretences – blurb
Five year-old Annabelle arrived at boarding school fluent in French and English. Separated from her nurse, a dismal shadow blights Annabelle’s life because she does not know who her parents are.
Although high-spitited, Annabelle is financially dependent on her unknown guardian, she refuses to marry a French baron more than twice her age.
Her life in danger, Annabelle is saved by a gentleman, who says he will help her to discover her identity. Yet, from then on nothing is as it seems, and she is forced to run away for the second time to protect her rescuer.
Even more determined to discover her identity, in spite of many false pretences, Annabelle must learn who to trust. Her attempts to unravel the mystery of her birth lead to further danger, despair and unbearable heartache, and even more false pretences, until the only person who has ever wanted to cherish her, reveals the startling truth, and all’s well that ends well.
Excerpt
False Pretences
1815
Chapter One
‘I have good news for you, Annabelle,’ said Miss Chalfont, the well-educated head mistress and owner of The Beeches, an exclusive school for young ladies.
Seated on a straight-backed chair opposite Miss Chalfont’s walnut desk, Annabelle clasped her hands tightly on her lap. ‘Has my guardian told you who my parents are?’ she asked in a voice quivering with excitement.
Regret flickered across Miss Chalfont’s face before she shook her head. ‘No, I am very sorry, he has not. For your sake I wish he had. In fact, I do not know who he is. I receive instructions from a lawyer in Dover. To be honest, for no particular reason, I have always assumed your guardian’s identity is that of a man, but it could be that of a woman.’
Dover! Annabelle thought. The town where she had lived with her nurse before a nameless, elegant lady, with a French accent, brought her to The Beeches. Time and time again she had wondered if the lady was her guardian or whether she was a stranger ordered to bring her here. She had no way of knowing for the lady had not answered any of her questions.
Annabelle looked into Miss Chalfont’s eyes. ‘Who is the lawyer, ma’am?’
‘I do not know for he does not identify himself. He merely arranges for your…er…upkeep and sends me your guardian’s instructions.’
‘No clue to the mystery of her own identity,’ Annabelle thought and gazed down to conceal her disappointment. ‘Has the lawyer given you permission to tell me who my guardian is?’ she asked despite her suspicion that he had not.
Miss Chalfont looked down at a letter. ‘No, your guardian, who I have no doubt has your welfare at heart, still wishes to remain incognito. But, my dear child, you are fortunate. Your guardian has arranged for you to marry monsieur le Baron de Beauchamp.’
Annabelle looked up with a mixture of astonishment, disbelief and intense indignation at the arrangement that took no heed of her wishes. ‘I am to marry a man I have never met!’
With restless fingers, Miss Chalfont adjusted her frilled mobcap. ‘Yes, your guardian has arranged for you to marry monsieur le Baron tomorrow.’
Annabelle stared at her kind teacher as though she had turned into a monster. ‘Mon dieu!’ she raged reverting to the French she spoke as well as English when she was a small child. ‘My God, tomorrow! My guardian expects me to marry a Frenchman tomorrow. Miss Chalfont, surely you do not approve of such haste.’
‘Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.’ Miss Chalfont tapped her fingers on her desk. ‘My approval or disapproval is of no consequence. Your guardian wishes you to marry immediately so there is little more to be said. A special licence has been procured and the vicar has been informed.’ Miss Chalfont smiled at her. ‘You have nothing to fear. This letter informs me that monsieur speaks English and lives in this country.’
Annabelle scowled. Her hands trembled. For the first time, she defied her head mistress. ‘Nothing to fear? My life is to be put in the hands of a husband with the right to .…beat me….or….starve me, and you say I have nothing to fear, Miss Chalfont! Please believe me when I say that nothing will persuade me to marry in such haste.’
Not the least display of emotion crossed the head teacher’s face. ‘You should not allow your imagination to agitate your sensibilities. For all you know monsieur is charming and will be a good, kind husband.’
‘On the other hand, he might be a monster,’ Annabelle said.
Miss Chalfont ignored the interruption and continued. ‘At eighteen, you are the oldest girl in the school. It is time for you to leave the nest and establish one of your own.’
‘Twaddle,’ Annabelle muttered. ‘My education is almost complete and I suspect you wish to be rid of me.’
Miss Chalfont smoothed the skirt of her steel grey, woollen gown and looked at Annabelle with a cold expression in her eyes. ‘I beg your pardon. Did I hear you say ‘twaddle’? As for wishing to be rid of you, child, that is not true. However, I will admit that in recent months I have worried about your guardian’s future plans for you. But I need not have worried. As a happy bride, I daresay you will go to London where those pretty blue eyes and long lashes of yours will be so much admired that monsieur le baron will be proud of you.’
At any other time Miss Chalfont’s rare compliment would have pleased her. On this occasion it only served to increase the fury she tried to conceal. Losing her temper would be pointless. Before Annabelle spoke, she took a deep breath to calm herself. ‘It is unreasonable to order me to marry the man without allowing me time to become acquainted with him.’
‘Do not refer to your bridegroom as the man. I have told you his name is de Beauchamp.’
Rebellion flamed in Annabelle’s stomach. ‘What do you know of my…er...bridegroom-to-be, ma’am?’
Miss Chalfont looked down at the letter. ‘He is described as a handsome gentleman of mature years.’
‘One would think the description is of a piece of mature cheese or a bottle of vintage wine.’
Miss Chalfont frowned. ‘Do not be impertinent, Annabelle, you are not too old to be punished.’
‘I beg your pardon, ma’am, but please tell me how mature he is,’ Annabelle said her eyes wide open and her entire body taut with apprehension.
‘Monsieur le baron is some forty years old.’
‘How mature?’ Annabelle persisted with her usual bluntness.
‘He is forty-two years old.’
Annabelle stood, bent forward and drummed her fingers on the edge of the desk. ‘Please be kind enough to inform my guardian that I will not play Guenevere to an aging Arthur. I would prefer to build my nest with a young Lancelot.’
Miss Chalfont’s shoulders heaved as though she was trying not to laugh. ‘Regardless of your preference you must marry according to your guardian’s wish.’
‘Dear ma’am, you and your mother have always been kind to me. I cannot believe you approve of-.’
‘As I have already said, my approval or disapproval is of no importance. Your duty is to obey.’
Annabelle’s anger boiled and she felt somewhat sick in the stomach. Now that she was old enough to leave the seminary, it seemed that unless she refused to co-operate, she really would be disposed of without the slightest consideration for her personal wishes. Simultaneously afraid to obey her guardian and furious because not even Miss Chalfont seemed to care about her dilemma, Annabelle straightened. She looked round the cosy parlour, with its thick oriental rugs, pretty figurines on the mantelpiece and a number of gilt framed pictures on the wall, one of which she had painted. ‘I will consider the marriage.’ Annabelle looked down again in case rebellion revealed itself on her face. But she had not lied. She would consider the marriage proposal, but not in the manner Miss Chalfont expected for she would find a way to reject the elderly baron.
Miss Chalfont stood, walked round her desk, and patted Annabelle’s shoulder before resting her hand on it. ‘My dear child, there is little for you to consider. ‘I dread to think of the consequences if you disobey your guardian. You could be cast penniless from here with only the clothes on your back. After all, your guardian does have complete power over you.’
Annabelle wanted to jerk away from her uncaring teacher’s hand, but forced herself to remain passive. She did not want the woman to suspect the nature of her rebellious thoughts and have her closely watched. Inwardly she seethed and decided that whatever the cost she would escape the fate in store for her. An image of her former nurse, with whom she corresponded, flashed through her mind. With it came a sense of security and purpose.
Professional Reviews
False Pretences by Rosemary Morris
F. Way’s review of False Pretences on Amazon
I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot of False Pretences. When reading the novel I felt Annabelle’s overwhelming mission is to find her origins so she tenaciously pursues all clues.
Annabelle puts her life in danger when she runs away from the boarding school where she has lived since the age of five. She is rescued by Roland, who is too much of a gentleman not to help the intriguing young lady
. I particularly relished the suspense of the reciprocal love between Roland and Belle desire, which is thwarted by misunderstanding after misunderstanding which prevents them achieving mutual fulfilment. I wanted the truth to replace the false pretences and for Roland and Belle to overcome each other’s prejudices.
Rosemary Morris’ major and minor characters spring to life. I sympathised with Annabelle and liked Roland, and was particularly amused by the snobbishness of Roland’s grandmother. Apart from this Rosemary’s great attention to every aspect of the Regency era is impressive.
False Pretences is a ripping read and I look forward to reading this author’s next novel.
Marooned is the 1860's saga of Justin Radcliff, a young American, who is beaten and thrown overboard by his evil twin brother, Edward.
Kolya, a handsome Black man and new leader of the transplanted Zulu tribe there, finds Justin caught in hi
Encountering danger, romance, heartache and tragedy, Catherine Merit strives to fit into a world filled with prejudice, hatred and violence where she is forced to kill a man in order to save herself. Third book of the Indignities Series.
