A Perfect Proposal
Read A Perfect Proposal Online
Authors: Katie Fforde
KATIE FFORDE
Century • London
This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Version 1.0
Epub ISBN 9781407087917
Published by Century in 2010
2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1
Copyright © Katie Fforde Ltd 2010
Katie Fforde has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser
First published in Great Britain in 2010 by Century Random House, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road London SW1V 2SA
Addresses for companies within The Random House Group Limited can be found at:
www.randomhouse.co.uk/offices.htm
The Random House Group Limited Reg. No. 954009
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9781846054501
The Random House Group Limited supports The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the leading international forest certification organisation. All our titles that are printed on Greenpeace approved FSC certified paper carry the FSC logo. Our paper procurement policy can be found at
www.rbooks.co.uk/environment
Printed and bound in Great Britain by CPI Mackays, Chatham, ME5 8TD
To my family, all generations,
past and present, who all helped
with this book.
And to the Romantic Novelists’ Association,
for being Fabulous at 50 – thank you!
Katie Fforde lives in Gloucestershire with her husband and some of her three children. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit.
A Perfect Proposal
is her sixteenth novel.
Living Dangerously
The Rose Revived
Wild Designs
Stately Pursuits
Life Skills
Thyme Out
Artistic Licence
Highland Fling
Paradise Fields
Restoring Grace
Flora’s Lot
Practically Perfect
Going Dutch
Wedding Season
Love Letters
Truth is always stranger than fiction and the idea for this book came from something in my own family – the inheritance of some drilling rights that over the years had been widely dispersed. My cousin Elizabeth Varvill has worked incredibly hard trying to co-ordinate these which makes herding cats seem like a pleasant afternoon activity. And she didn’t have the lovely assistant I gave my heroine. So enormous thanks to her, and not only for a wonderful idea for a book.
To my American consultants, most of whom are actually American! Maggie Dana, writer, Nora Neibergall, Lisa Bernhard and Liz Fenwick – although Liz is part of the Cornish consultation team that is also writer Judy Astley.
To Pete and Mary Donkin and Amanda Shouler who between them got me onto a Gulfstream – relieved it didn’t leave the ground but wow – and thank you so much!
Also the wonderful Smug Sisters – aka writers Sara Craven, Jenny Haddon, Kate Lace and Joanna Maitland. They not only gave me huge plot pointers and assistance but their good example around me meant I got twice as much done as I usually do in a day. Also thanks to Amanda Craig whose generous prize to the Pen Quiz raffle meant that the Smug Sisters could spend a week in a little piece of heaven, writing.
To Bill Hamilton and Sarah Molloy at A M Heath for being Rottweiler-like to the world but wonderful to me. Thank you so much.
To my truly amazing editors at Cornerstone, Random House – Kate Elton and Georgina Hawtrey-Woore – who have such inspiring ideas and infinite patience. I really couldn’t do it without you!
To Charlotte Bush and Amelia Harvell who obviously have dirt on all the people likely to help sell my books
because every year they do more. They also make author tours seem like holidays with especially jolly guides.
To the miraculous sales and marketing departments who every year are more ingenious, more cunning and more hard working at getting my books sold. They include Claire Round, Louisa Gibbs, Rob Waddington, Oliver Malcolm and Jen Wilson. Thank you!
To Alun Owen who coped with the traffic jams so calmly, and as ever, Richenda Todd who spots and prevents more blunders every year but who never tells me off.
Really, producing novels is a team effort and I have a wonderful team.
‘So, remind me, who’s this “Evil Uncle Eric” then? I’m sure you’ve told me but I can’t keep track of my own relations, let alone other people’s.’
Sophie laid her teaspoon down in her saucer and looked thoughtfully across the table at one of her two best friends. ‘He’s some relation of Dad’s, Mands, but as I’ve never met him either – or if I have, I was too young to remember – it’s hardly surprising you’ve forgotten. I’m not quite sure if he’s really an uncle or just an older cousin. There was some sort of falling out which apparently is all sorted now.’
They were in their favourite coffee shop, at their favourite table by the window where they could watch the passers-by, and, if appropriate, comment on their clothes. Sophie, from habit, mopped up some spilled coffee with a napkin.
‘And remind me why you’re going to look after him? You’re only twenty-two. Not quite old enough to be palmed off as a spinster and sent to look after single male relatives.’ Amanda’s disapproval was evident in the way she was carving patterns on the top of her cappuccino in choppy downward movements.
Sophie narrowed her eyes in mock disapproval. ‘You read too much historical fiction, Mandy, although I must say it does sound as if the unattached daughter is being sent to live with the rich uncle in the hope that he’ll leave her all his money.’ She frowned. ‘It’s not really that at all.’
Her friend raised her eyebrows sceptically.
‘It’s not!’ protested Sophie.
‘So your family aren’t using you as a dogsbody – yet again? While this random relative’s minder goes on holiday?’
Sophie shrugged. ‘She’s not a minder! She’s a house-keeper, or a carer or something. Minder sounds awful.’
