The Unexpected Suitor

By Robyn C Rye

Grace's earliest memories are of being shunned and overlooked by her family. She never met their expectations, from her red hair and tall stature to her lack of ladylike behaviour; everything about Grace condemned her in the eyes of her family. Denied a season of her own, Grace discovers that her sister, Amy, is to be presented to society. 

Resigned to her spinster status, Grace looks for a distraction to help keep her occupied while her family is away. When she decides to tutor children from the local village, she finds a champion in Reverend Simon Blake and his housekeeper, Mrs Edwards.

The reverend and his housekeeper, appalled at Grace's treatment by her family, play matchmaker, and Grace meets Miles Blakemore, the Duke of Hampton. As the relationship grows, Grace fears that her family's return may cause problems between her and the duke. Her fears are realised, and she and Miles face challenges neither expected to encounter. Can the couple overcome their difficulties, or is Grace doomed to be the spinster her family predicted?

Grace's earliest memories are of being shunned and overlooked by her family. She never met their expectations, from her red hair and tall stature to her lack of ladylike behaviour; everything about Grace condemned her in the eyes of her family. Denied a season of her own, Grace discovers that her sister, Amy, is to be presented to society.

Resigned to her spinster status, Grace looks for a distraction to help keep her occupied while her family is away. When she decides to tutor children from the local village, she finds a champion in Reverend Simon Blake and his housekeeper, Mrs Edwards.

The reverend and his housekeeper, appalled at Grace's treatment by her family, play matchmaker, and Grace meets Miles Blakemore, the Duke of Hampton. As the relationship grows, Grace fears that her family's return may cause problems between her and the duke. Her fears are realised, and she and Miles face challenges neither expected to encounter. Can the couple overcome their difficulties, or is Grace doomed to be the spinster her family predicted?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: robyncrye
• Release date: Dec 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9780994488688

Book preview

Author’s note

As a reader, you may wonder why some words seem misspelt, but as an Australian writer, I use the spelling of terms in English rather than the American style. So, NO! I am not a poor speller, and I have used the spell check, but with an Australian slant.

I loved recounting the story of Grace and Miles and hope you enjoyed the unfolding story of the trials and successes they endured.

If you liked the book and have a minute to spare, I would appreciate a short review on the page or site where you bought the book. Your help in spreading the word is appreciated. Reviews from readers like you make a massive difference in helping new readers find stories like The Unexpected Suitor.

[e-mail]

robyncrye @goodreads

PROLOGUE

F or mercy’s sake, Miss Grace, look at your dress.

Grace glanced at her gown and winced. Her mother would reprimand her for the state of her clothes and her hoyden ways. Miss Cybil, the governess, tutted at Grace.

Why can’t you be as good as your sister? You’re the elder of the two, yet she acts more grown-up than you. You should follow her example.

Grace looked over to where Amy sat, her legs crossed at the ankles and her needlepoint on her lap. The smug look Amy gave Grace made the scolding worse. Did her sister deliberately try to show Grace in a bad light? Embroidering outside instead of exploring didn’t appeal to Grace at all. What was the point of coming out if you sat still and didn’t enjoy the freedom to run and explore? Grace would love a sister who played with her, but Amy was too proper to have fun. She was tired of people comparing her to her sister; she always came up short. Miss Cybil and Mama often discussed what a trial Grace was and how to change her ways. Liberal use of a ruler on her knuckles and time out in the schoolroom were Miss Cybil’s methods of quelling Grace’s unladylike behaviour. Mama stated that if Grace were a boy who had caused this much trouble, she would send him to boarding school. Grace sighed with relief that girls didn’t go to school because she was positive if her mother sent her away, she would stay until she turned eighteen.

Miss Amy, you can go to the sitting room; your mother has asked you to join her for afternoon tea.

The cordial manner the governess used with Amy disappeared as her sister left.

You little hoyden, if the mistress dismisses me because of your behaviour, I will beat you before I leave. Get yourself upstairs and change into a clean gown. When you finish changing, you can go to the schoolroom.

But didn’t you say that mama wanted us to join her for afternoon tea?

The governess gave a nasty laugh. 

She didn’t want you, just your sister. Your mother has guests and doesn’t wish you to shame her. Go to the schoolroom and think of your behaviour.

Tears sparkled in Grace’s eyes. She would not shed those tears in front of the horrid woman. After struggling out of her gown, Grace used the chilly water in the bowl to wash away most of the dirt from her hands and face. Without help, putting on a clean dress was tricky, but as she had no lady’s maid, she had to make do.

Alone in the schoolroom, Grace fidgeted; she had no wish to read, and apart from the drawing materials, there was nothing else to occupy her time. If she avoided Miss Cybil, Grace could go to the kitchen. Mrs Stewart, the cook, always gave Grace tasty treats when she was in trouble. Mrs Stewart never criticised her or told her she should be more like Amy. Yes, that’s what she’d do! She’d go to the kitchen and talk to Mrs Stewart.

As Grace left the room, she bumped into Miss Cybil.

Where are you going? I said to go to the schoolroom.

I went there, but if I’m not allowed to have tea with mama and Amy, I wanted to ask Mrs Stewart for something to eat.

I am punishing you; that is why you are in the schoolroom alone.

Please, Miss Cybil, I’m hungry. I won’t be a bother to Mrs Stewart.

No, you won’t be a bother because you will stay right there.

The nanny turned Grace around and marched her toward the school-room door. She shoved Grace into the room and closed the door with a bang. Grace heard the key turn in the door and knew that for the foreseeable future, she was a prisoner. Who knew how long the vindictive woman would keep her there? The tears that Grace had held at bay welled up, and try as she might to suppress her tears, they leaked out. Why did her mother hate her? Didn't she know children differed from each other, and just because Amy enjoyed embroidering, it didn’t mean that Grace did? Amy was always perfect, and she taunted Grace about the new gowns and social events she attended, while Grace wore old dresses and never left the estate. Grace wanted to shout and throw things, but the punishment for losing her temper would be severe.

Once her tears subsided, Grace looked around for something to occupy her during her imprisonment. She picked up a pencil and paper, covered the surface with every horrible word she knew and then wrote insults about Miss Cybil’s looks and personality. Frustrated, Grace tore the paper into shreds and sobbed out her heartache. She swiped the hot tears from her face and wondered why she lived in this house where no one wanted her. Were there aunts or uncles with whom she could live? Surely she had grandparents who would love her? Should she climb out of the window and run away? Would her mother and father hunt for her or be relieved she had gone?

As she mulled over these thoughts, Grace drew on the blank paper. The pencil felt comfortable in her hand, and the visage of the nanny materialised on the paper. Grace laughed; she gave the horrid woman a large witchy nose with a wart. Cheered by her drawing, Grace waited for her release from the locked room. 

Grace attempted to comport herself in a lady-like manner as she grew older, but nothing she did pleased her Mother or her governess. Even though she walked more slowly and consistently wore her bonnet when she went outside, the women still ridiculed her. No amount of needlework or practising to pour tea gained Grace any credit. She wondered what it would be like to have supportive parents and a loving sister, but that wish was a pipe dream. 

When Amy began to learn the piano, Grace longed to learn to play, but her Mother treated her request with disdain.

Goodness, Grace, don’t be ridiculous. You can’t remember the most basic rules about proper behaviour. How would you ever learn the rules associated with playing the piano?

Determined to prove her Mother wrong, Grace waited until she and Amy went calling, and she used Amy’s books to teach herself to play. While she was not an expert, Grace felt proud of her achievement. The urge to show her Mother her piano playing was something Grace would never do because she felt sure that displaying her expertise would result in her Mother banning her from playing the instrument.

Although the governess concentrated on Amy in the school room, Grace found the lessons easy, unlike Amy, who struggled to form her letters or add numbers.  Grace sailed through the exercises, much to the disgust of Amy and the governess. It soon became apparent that what Grace lacked in social skills, she made up for in her studies. When Miss Cybil felt she had taught Amy all a young lady needed to know, Grace searched the library for books that could extend her knowledge.

The one thing Grace couldn’t do alone was dancing. Amy had a dance instructor, and Grace was allowed to watch, but neither Amy nor the dance instructor asked her to participate. The day she had asked the tutor if she could learn, he looked down his nose and declared he wasn’t teaching any riff-raff. Grace felt outraged that the man would describe her as such in her home, but Amy laughed, and the lesson continued.

Grace fretted about how she could be ready to make her debut without the same advantages that Amy had. Were there men in society who wouldn’t be concerned that she couldn’t dance and was less than elegant when entering a room? And what of her clothes? Surely her Mother didn’t intend to take her to London in the plain dresses she had the dressmaker make for her? Compared to Amy, in her elaborate gowns and styled hair, Grace would be mistaken for a servant should a visitor arrive. Despair overwhelmed Grace. How was she to find a husband when she rarely left the estate?

CHAPTER ONE

Grace listened to her mother and Amy discussing Amy’s introduction to society. They discussed the new wardrobe her mother felt Amy needed to showcase her beauty and help snare a titled man. Grace felt sad at the disparity in the way her mother treated her and her sister. Why did Grace get a season while she missed out?

Why does Amy have a come out when you said you couldn’t afford to present me last season? Grace asked.

Glancing at Grace, her mother replied, Don’t be stupid, Grace. Why spend all that money on a social introduction that doesn’t help anyone? No man wants a tall woman with red hair and freckles. We can’t afford to spend money on a hopeless case.

Grace’s face burned with

Reviews for The Unexpected Suitor

[Markella · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Annoying. The author mixes earls with dukes, the same person appearing first as the daughter of a duke then as that of an earl. Then her duke, the other one, not her father, is referred to as ‘my lord’.

[Leena Aluru · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great story, but very poor editing. Character development is poor. We don't get a feel of any of the characters. Their dates are very sketchy, I would have loved to read some of their conversations together.

Recommended : ?