19th Century, Liverpool.

As wife to an errant husband, the art patron and industrialist Frederick Leyland, Frances is losing her sense of self. Living in the beautiful Speke Hall with her family, she is shocked when Frederick announces he has commissioned American Artist, James Whistler to paint her portrait and the beautiful old house. Added to that, Whistler is also going to renovate the artwork in their new London home.

But when Frederick, as usual, dismisses his wife’s desires to help, telling her she doesn’t have the taste or style needed, this time her focus is drawn elsewhere when James Whistler, the handsome, brooding American artist, arrives at Speke and sweeps Frances and the family off their feet. Unlike her husband, he not only listens to Frances, he sees her. He sees the Frances that no-one else does.

Under the painter’s intense gaze, Frances begins to realise that like the house, there is neglected splendour within her, too. Inspired by the possibilities the artist arouses in her, she begins to wonder if love might still be in the picture for her, after all…

Based on a true story, this is the heady, slow-burn tale of a woman reinventing herself, while embarking on a daring, forbidden love affair with James Whistler.

* * *

All of Felicity York's novels can be read as standalones. If you love The Quiet Wife: A Speke Hall Scandal, read The Runaway Bride: A Lyme Park Scandal, and pre-order The Secret Sister: A Chatsworth House Scandal now!

READERS LOVE FELICITY YORK

‘This is honestly the best book I have read in a long time’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The romance was beautiful’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Romps along at a cracking pace’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘All the more thrilling for being based on a true story’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I recommend this book to anyone who loves romance’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Can’t wait for the next book in the series!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The author brought such care and excitement to the characters’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Not just a romance but also a glimpse of the social history of the time’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘It mixes my two loves, romance and courtroom drama’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Fascinating story, delightful style’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Something completely different’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Kept me on the edge of my seat’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Felicity York is the author of the Stately Scandals series, of which the first instalment – The Runaway Bride: A Lyme Park Scandal – has been translated into three languages. A further education consultant by day, she has also written nine MM Regency romance novels under the name Ruby Moone. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, whose blog she runs alongside two colleagues, and she was a founding member of the RNA’s Rainbow Chapter to increase diversity in the romance genre. She lives in Lancashire.