The spellbinding new historical novel from multi-award-winning author Sally Gardner – published 31st July 2025
1796. Duval Harlington, recently released from prison in France, is on his way home. Memories of the tranquil family estate kept his spirits high through his worst days in La Force, so it is no small sorrow to return and find Muchmore thrown into chaos. His despicable father, he learns, has died. And while he has left the estate to Duval, there is one small stipulation: he must be married, or else lose everything…
A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE.
With only two days and seven hours to find a wife, devoted bachelor Duval is prepared to walk away. But then he stumbles upon a wife sale. With women being bought and sold like chattels, Duval is horrified by what he sees. Until he lays eyes on one intriguing figure…
A BRIDE WITH A HIDDEN PAST.
Duval makes an extravagant bid, and he and Edmée are married with minutes to spare. But little does Duval know, this is only the beginning of his troubles. For Edmée is not who she says she is, and her secrets will soon threaten to dismantle everything he holds dear…
For fans of sumptuous historical fiction by the likes of Stacey Halls,
Kate Foster and Kayte Nunn. Sally has been consistently praised for her evocative storytelling and world-building, including in her recent book The Weather Woman.
Sally Gardner gained a first class degree at a leading
London art college and became a successful
theatre costume designer before illustrating and writing books. Her debut novel, I, Coriander won the Nestle Gold Award and she is also a Costa and Carnegie prize-winner. The Weather Woman, her first adult novel for Head of Zeus, was shortlisted for the HWA Gold Crown Award. Her books have been translated all over the world and have sold over two million copies.
Find Sally online at thesallygardner.com or on X @TheSallyGardner.
‘Sally’s trademark elegant prose and confident unfurling of plot and character… Compelling, thrilling and beguiling!’ CAROLINE LEA
‘Sally Gardner’s best novel yet, as if Angela Carter had written Georgette Heyer with a dash of A Tale of Two Cities’ AMANDA CRAIG
