The Runaway Bride
We first meet the Turner family when our protagonist’s father admires the fruits of his labours as he arrives at his stately home of Shrigley Hall, Cheshire, in 1826. He allows himself the satisfaction of revelling in his rise from a poor background to the giddy heights of the county’s High Sheriff. But pride comes before a fall. Moments later, his world comes crashing down when the family receives a letter from the headmistress at daughter Ellen’s boarding school. It transpires that the teenager is in the company of a mysterious Frenchman. Turner and his wife are mystified. Is it elopement or abduction?
Meanwhile, Mrs Turner’s companion, Miss Frances Davis, goes into overdrive to console her friend and devise a way out of potential scandal. But is Miss Davis all she seems? The plot twists and turns with the lying miscreants one step ahead of their pursuers, and Ellen becomes Mrs Edward Wakefield, against her will. Will the perpetrators of this heinous crime be brought to justice? Intrigue is piled on a-plenty.
The Runaway Bride is based on the true story of heiress Ellen Turner, who was famously the victim of forced marriage. In York’s hands, the story becomes a historical romance of a young woman wronged who is ultimately saved by her own resourcefulness and the love of a wealthy neighbour.
The novel is the first in York’s Stately Scandals series. Ellen is a great choice for the prototype rebellious and spirited heroine who, despite her tender years, stands up for what she believes is right. The author’s research is meticulous and brings this true story to life.
