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Authors: Fay Weldon

The New Countess (33 page)

BOOK: The New Countess
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Fay Weldon once again draws her readers into the lives and loves of the aristocratic Dilberne family, as they embrace not only a new century, but a new generation – a generation with somewhat radical views…

Long Live the King
is available
here
.

III.
The New Countess
The King had foreign tastes; a French chef would have to be brought in and where could one find such a one at short notice? Existing staff would have to move up and share beds, which always made them sulky and resentful just when they should not be. Pathways must be constructed so the ladies would not get their feet muddy as they joined the men, and field kitchens erected so that dishes could be served hot and claret warmed. At least the King’s champagne – he had to have champagne when shooting, though frugal enough with alcohol otherwise – would be cold enough. Isobel found her heart beating hard and her breath coming short. Five months to prepare for one weekend – it was a monstrous task.

The New Countess
is available
here
.

About the Author

One of the most successful advertising copywriters of her generation, Fay Weldon’s credits as a writer of fiction include classic novels like
The Life and Loves of a She-Devil
and
Growing Rich
, and the pilot episode of the original TV series ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’. In 2001 she was awarded a CBE for services to literature. She has seven sons and stepsons and one stepdaughter, and lives on a hill in the west of England.

A Letter from the Publisher

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HeadofZeusBooks

Dedicated to great storytelling

First published in the UK in 2013 by Head of Zeus Ltd.

Copyright © Fay Weldon, 2013.

The moral right of Fay Weldon to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

9 7 5 3 1 2 4 6 8

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN (HB): 9781781851630

ISBN (TPB): 9781781851647

ISBN (E): 9781781851661

Head of Zeus Ltd

Clerkenwell House

45-47 Clerkenwell Green

London EC1R 0HT

www.headofzeus.com

Contents

Cover

Welcome Page

Part 1

A Visit to Stonehenge

Midsummer’s Day, 22nd June 1905

Minnie Gives a Birthday Party

25th June 1905, Belgrave Square

An Alarming Proposition

26th June 1905, Newmarket

Waiting for Rosina

26th June 1905, Tilbury

In the Servants’ Hall

27th June 1905, Dilberne Court

Lady Dilberne Confronts her Daughter

28th June 1905, Belgrave Square

Lunch with a Publisher

30th June 1905, Fleet Street

Never Darken My Doors Again

29th July 1905, Belgrave Square

What the Butler Knew

7th August 1905, The Servants’ Hall

Minnie Goes to Church, but Arthur Does Not Come with Her

20th August 1905, Dilberne

His Lordship Gets Away

20th August 1905, The House of Lords

Another Week, Another Sunday

Sunday 3rd September 1905, Dilberne

Arthur Invites Temptation

September 1905, The Gatehouse

Self-Inspection

30th September 1905, No. 3 Fleet Street

Affairs of State and Matters of the Heart

30th September 1905, Belgrave Square

Through a Glass, Darkly

30th September 1905, Dilberne Court

Goings-on

30th September 1905, The Gatehouse

Indiscretion

30th September 1905, The Servants’ Hall

Arthur Resists Temptation

30th September 1905, The Gatehouse

Minnie Runs

30th September 1905, Dilberne Court

Part 2

What Happened Next

…in Minnie’s Life

What Happened Next

…in Arthur’s Life

What Happened Next

…for Isobel and Robert

What Happened Next

…at No. 3 Fleet Street

What Happened Next

…at Belgrave Square

What Happened Next

…at The Gatehouse

Part 3

Tessa Returns

7th November 1905

The Day After the Terrible Event

November 1905, Belgrave Square

The Servants’ Version…

November 1905, Dilberne Court

The Snatching in Church Lane

Sunday 3rd December 1905

The Inspector Takes Charge

3rd and 4th December 1905

Molly Makes a Decision

Tuesday 5th December 1905, The Servants’ Hall, Dilberne Court

A Disturbing Morning

8th December 1905, No. 3 Fleet Street

Part 4

The Guests Arrive

15th December 1905, Dilberne Court

A Day of Broken Records

16th December 1905, The Dilberne Estate

The Captains and the Kings Depart

16th and 17th December 1905, The Dilberne Estate

Facing the Future

3rd and 4th January 1906, Westminster Abbey and Dilberne Church

Bless You All

22nd June 1906, St Martin-in-the-Fields

About this Book

Reviews

About this Trilogy

About the Author

An Invitation from the Publisher

Copyright

BOOK: The New Countess
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