The Professor's Daughter

by Catherine King

Genres: Historical Fiction; Sagas; Short Stories

Synopsis

*A DIGITAL-EXCLUSIVE SHORT STORY* The day of the Langton Park community fair has arrived and Evie Preston, a well-respected professor's daughter, is eager to spread the word about her afternoon lecture programme for ladies. She has no clue how her ideas will affect three very different women... Lady Alice is struggling with the life her mother and brother believe she should be living. Surely she should be making these choices for herself? Florence is bright but she's bored. She's keen to continue learning but her parents think she's had all the education she needs. And then there's Meg, who is young and full of hope for the future, but frustrated with the obstacles in her way. Authentic, gripping and spellbinding, The Professor's Daughter is a short story about a group of strong women who are unable to ignore their responsibilities but who also refuse to ignore their hearts. *Contains an exclusive extract from Catherine King's new novel, A Sister's Courage : a story of tragedy, strength and hope *

Release date: November 19, 2013

Publisher: Sphere

Print pages: 48

Sample

Langton Park, Yorkshire, Midsummer 1904

‘Mother, do try to smile. A marriage is a happy occasion.’

‘Not when it turns one out of one’s home.’

The drawing room of Langton Park sparkled with the jewelled hands of guests holding cut-glass coupes of chilled champagne. Lady Alice Langton tried not to show her irritation. It was more than seven years since her father, Earl Langton, had died and her mother had become the Dowager Countess. Alice was relieved that her brother, who had inherited the earldom, had found someone he loved, and said, ‘Charles is very happy with his bride.’

‘Her father is in trade. We shall all suffer from her dreadful middle-class ways.’

Alice agreed but did not say so. ‘She is only eighteen. I expect you were full of new ideas at her age.’

‘I most certainly was not! And neither were you. You were – you were …’ Her mother stopped, as though unsure of what to say next. Alice had been planning her own wedding at eighteen. She had met her beloved Hugo during her debutante season, fallen in love with him and had looked forward to becoming the wife of a high-ranking army officer. Her mother went on, ‘You are Charles’s elder sister. He should have made sure you were safely married first.’

‘Safely married? Being a spinster is not a dangerous occupation!’

‘It is when one has no money.’

‘Charles will look after me.’

‘Do not be so sure.’ Alice was shocked at this remark and the expression on her face caused her mother to frown and go on, ‘You must realise that his wife will come first now.’

‘I understand that, Mother.’

‘He no longer needs you for social and political occasions.’

Alice had thrown herself into helping Charles meet his many formal commitments in the Riding after Colenso. Colenso. Even the word caused a tear to threaten. It was one of the worst battles in the Boer War and Hugo’s regiment sustained heavy losses. He had been fatally wounded alongside many other brave soldiers and his loss devastated Alice. Langton Park had occupied her time while she grieved and her mother wisely stepped back to allow this. She had taken the opportunity to indulge in extended stays with friends in warmer climes.

But now, for Alice, the thought of empty days stretching ahead filled her with fear. She needed to be busy. ‘Surely I can be of assistance somewhere?’ she suggested. ‘Prudence is very young.’

‘She has him wrapped around her little finger and she is determined. Charles has already asked me to move to the Dower House; you too, of course.’

Alice’s shock deepened. ‘There isn’t enough room for all of us!’

The Dower House was a pretty Queen Anne house but it had only four bedrooms, and three attics for servants. Grandmama already lived there with her nurse, who occupied another of the bedrooms. The others were empty and neither had a dressing room. Mother would expect Alice to take the smaller of the two. The home was a peaceful haven for Alice’s elderly grandmother. It was expertly run by a loyal housekeeper and a small band of servants guided by Alice and she was horrified at the thought of her mother taking over. The Dowager Countess, coming from a long line of blue-blooded English aristocracy, had never quite approved of her mother-in-law’s Eastern European banking ancestry. Grandmama had always retained her strong Germanic accent and Mother regarded her as a ‘foreigner’, tolerated only for the fortune she had brought to Langton Park. Alice admired her grandmama. She was frail but her mind was sharp and she welcomed Alice’s regular visits.

Alice’s mother said, ‘Charles has suggested that you spend a few months in Langton Place. I agree with him. You’d be in London for the season.’

Alice’s concern increased. She was nigh on ten years too old for a debutante ball and at least ten years too young to be a chaperone. Besides, she couldn’t leave Grandmama now and said so.

‘I shall be with her, my dear,’ her mother replied.

Even worse! Alice could hardly believe her brother had made such a suggestion. It must have been Prudence’s idea. ‘I have a better solution,’ she said. ‘Why don’t you spend the season at the London house instead of me?’

Her mother’s face brightened. Clearly, it was preferable to living with Grandmama, and Alice drove her point home. ‘You adore visiting your nephew in Sussex. You’ll have invitations to the races and grouse shooting as well as parties and balls.’

‘But wouldn’t you rather do that?’

‘No, Mother, I would not,’ Alice replied patiently. She wasn’t a socialite like her mother. ‘Do think about it,’ she insisted. ‘Your nephew is talking to Grandmama at present. Shall I send him over to you?’

Alice did not wait for a reply, but threaded her way through the chattering guests. ‘Excuse us a moment, Grandmama.’ She smiled at the nurse holding her grandmother’s wheelchair and took her cousin’s elbow. ‘I need a favour,’ she whispered.

‘Actually, so do I.’ . . .