The Governess of Highland Hall
Read The Governess of Highland Hall Online
Authors: Carrie Turansky
Tags: #Christian Books & Bibles, #Literature & Fiction, #Historical, #Romance, #Genre Fiction, #Family Saga, #Literary, #United States, #Sagas, #Literary Fiction, #Religious & Inspirational Fiction, #Religion & Spirituality, #Christian Fiction, #Historical Romance, #Inspirational
Praise for
The Governess of Highland Hall
“There is much to like about Carrie Turansky’s
The Governess of Highland Hall:
a sweet noble heroine, a proud yet vulnerable hero, and a
Downton Abbey–
inspired setting. Endearing supporting characters and two romances add to the pleasure. Fans of Christian fiction and
Downton Abbey
will enjoy this story!”
—J
ULIE
K
LASSEN
, best-selling author of
The Tutor’s Daughter
“I admit I’m a
Downton Abbey
junkie. Thankfully, I got my fix with Carrie Turansky’s delightful new novel. Everything about this book breathes upstairs-downstairs, and I was swept away into the world of Highland Hall—the language, the customs, the clothes, the drama, the romance, oh, the romance! Absolutely charming, if I do say so myself!”
—S
USAN
M
AY
W
ARREN
, RITA and Christy Award winner and best-selling novelist of
Duchess
“Prim and wonderful,
The Governess of Highland Hall
is an exquisitely woven
Downton Abbey
tapestry, proper and perfectly of English nobility and their servants. With the utmost sensitivity and skill, Carrie Turansky has penned a breathless Edwardian love story not to be missed!”
—J
ULIE
L
ESSMAN
, award-winning author of the Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change series
“In
The Governess of Highland Hall
, Carrie Turansky blends a compelling heroine standing on the precipice of class divide with a magnificent Edwardian country estate in danger of ruin. She mixes well with an unforgettable cast of characters. The result is a beautifully written, faith-filled romance—the first in a series not to be missed.”
—C
ATHY
G
OHLKE
, Christy Award–winning author of
Promise Me This
and
Band of Sisters
“Fans of sweet romance will delight in
The Governess of Highland Hall
, set on a majestic estate of old, where love blossoms both upstairs and down in Edwardian England. Author Carrie Turansky has woven a tender and uplifting tale with a heartwarming message.”
—J
OANNE
B
ISCHOF
, award-winning author of the Cadence of Grace series
“With its engaging cast of characters, a setting reminiscent of
Downton Abbey
, and a storyline that celebrates faith, family, and friendship,
The Governess of Highland Hall
is more than a historical romance. It’s a book that’s sure to delight Carrie Turansky’s current fans and bring her many more.”
—A
MANDA
C
ABOT
, best-selling author of
Christmas Roses
“
The Governess of Highland Hall
is a deeply emotional story of learning to submit to God’s will. Fans of
Downton Abbey
will enjoy the Edwardian time period, the English traditions, and the upstairs-below-stairs intrigue. The characters are richly developed, Turansky’s prose lyrical. I enjoyed my stay at Highland Hall!”
—B
ETH
W
HITE
, Carol Award–winning author of
Controlling Interest
and
The Pelican Bride
(coming in April 2014)
“
The Governess of Highland Hall
is a delightful journey to Edwardian England with a cast of colorful characters and plot twists at every turn. With a nice mix of upstairs-downstairs drama and a spunky heroine, Carrie Turansky weaves a tale that will enchant
Downton Abbey
aficionados. Lovely and heartfelt.”
—C
ARLA
S
TEWART
, award-winning author of
Chasing Lilacs
and
Sweet Dreams
B
OOKS BY
C
ARRIE
T
URANSKY
N
OVELS
Snowflake Sweethearts
A Man to Trust
Seeking His Love
Along Came Love
Surrendered Hearts
N
OVELLAS
Christmas Mail-Order Brides
Kiss the Bride
A Blue and Gray Christmas
A Big Apple Christmas
Wedded Bliss?
THE GOVERNESS OF HIGHLAND HALL
PUBLISHED BY MULTNOMAH BOOKS
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921
Scripture quotations and paraphrases are taken from the King James Version and The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
Trade Paperback ISBN 978-1-60142-496-9
eBook ISBN 978-1-60142-497-6
Copyright © 2013 by Carrie Turansky
Cover design by Kristopher K. Orr; cover photography (governess) by Mike Heath, Magnus Creative, and (castle) by Ian Wilson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House LLC, New York, a Penguin Random House Company.
MULTNOMAH and its mountain colophon are registered trademarks of Random House LLC.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Turansky, Carrie.
The Governess of Highland Hall : A Novel / Carrie Turansky.
pages cm. — (Edwardian Brides)
ISBN 978-1-60142-496-9 (paperback) — ISBN 978-1-60142-497-6 (electronic)
I. Title.
PS3620.U7457G68 2013
813’.6—dc23
2013024721
v3.1
This book is dedicated to my husband, Scott Turansky,
whose love and encouragement have freed
me to write the stories of my heart
.
You are the inspiration for every hero I write
.
Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot sweep it away
.
If one were to give
all the wealth of one’s house for love,
it would be utterly scorned
.
—SONG OF SONGS 8:7
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God
.
—MATTHEW 5:8
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
ONE
October 1911
Berkshire, England
Julia Foster lifted her gaze to the clear October sky as a lark swooped past. Her steps slowed and her thoughts took flight, following the bird as it dipped into the golden trees beyond the meadow. If only she could fly away, back to the familiar life and cherished friends she had left behind in India. But that dream would have to wait.
She shifted her gaze to the country lane rising before her. Around the next bend she would see Highland Hall. At least that was what she remembered, but twelve years had passed since she had attended a charity bazaar at the large estate before her family left for India. What if she had misjudged the distance or the time it took to walk from the village of Fulton to Highland Hall? She quickened her pace. It wouldn’t do to be late for her ten o’clock appointment with Mrs. Emmitt, the housekeeper.
When she reached the top of the rise, she spotted an expensive-looking navy-blue motorcar with a black roof pulled to the side of the lane. A tall man, who had discarded his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, stood over the open hood. He reached in and pulled on something, then bent lower and scowled.
She considered walking past since they had not been introduced, but her conscience would not allow it. Stopping a few feet away, she cleared her throat. “Excuse me, sir. Do you need some assistance?”