Life is finally looking up for the poor relations. The Prince of Wales’ coat of arms gleams over the hotel entrance. All but one of the rooms are filled by the open-handed Prince Hugo and his entourage. The owners have taken on a new partner, Mr. Jason Davy, a popular actor. Even curmudgeonly Sir Philip hasn’t uttered anything loathsome for days. They have finally reached a position comfortable enough to allow them to consider offers to buy the hotel.
The poor relations’ hard-earned success, however, is in stark contrast to the plight of their latest guest, Lady Jane Fremney. The slight, beautiful youngest daughter of the Earl of Durby has been cast out of her family for refusing to marry the man her father has chosen. Lonely and bankrupt, Lady Jane has decided to commit suicide. But when Miss Tonks uncovers her plans, the poor relations go into action again to rescue Lady Jane from suicide, her father, and her intended husband.
M. C. Beaton, hailed as the “Queen of Crime” by the Globe and Mail, was the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Agatha Raisin novels—the basis for the hit series on Acorn TV and public television—as well as the Hamish Macbeth series and the Edwardian Murder Mysteries featuring Lady Rose Summer. Born in Scotland, Beaton started her career writing historical romances under several pseudonyms. She passed away in 2019.
Davina Porter has over twenty years' experience narrating books. Her special talent for a variety of dialects and accents has won the praise of critics and listeners alike. A member of Actors' Equity, Davina has appeared in many stage productions and has won several awards. Her audio work has covered a wide range of the written word, including classics, histories, biographies, romances, how-to books, and children's literature. Identified as "a narrator against whom all others should be measured" by the Los Angeles Times, she has won several awards for excellence in recording and was one of three AudioFile Golden Voices in 2002 and 2003. She has also been named one of AudioFile's 50 Best Voices of the Last Century. In 2004 Davina was the proud recipient of an Audie Award, and in 2006 her narration of A Breath of Snow and Ashes-the latest title in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, the entirety of which Davina has recorded-earned her a second Audie Award for Best Female Narrator of the Year.