Bess works with her father selling shrimp from his stall. When she
finds herself pregnant, he insists that she take the baby to the
foundling hospital. The foundling hospital cares for the children and
when they’re grown places then in domestic service, or other
employment, but the mother can claim the child for a fee. Bess saves
for six years to reclaim her daughter, Clara, but at the foundling
hospital she learns that someone else pretending to be her claimed
the child six years ago.
Alexandra is a rich
woman, but she lives in fear. Her husband is dead and she keeps the
house locked with only her young daughter, Charlotte, and the
servants for company. Alexandra was brought up by a rigid controlling
aunt, who made her life miserable, and now she is doing the same
thing to Charlotte. A young doctor convinces her that Charlotte would
be better off if she had a nursemaid and introduces her to Bess who
she hires. It changes everything.
The story takes
place in London in 1754. It’s a time when there was a wide gap
between how the rich and poor lived. This story explores the
differences through the viewpoints of the two women. The contrast
shows not only the differences in living arrangement, but also
differences in their conception of motherhood.
Beth is a very warm
character, Alexandra is cold and rigid. As the story progresses, the
author brings in the backstory that explains how the situation
evolved. I thought the story dragged a little focused on the tension
between the viewpoints of the two women, but the backstory is
carefully woven in and keeps the book interesting.
I received this book
from Harlequin for this review.
No comments:
Post a Comment