The Daughter of Highland Hall

Praise for
The Daughter of Highland Hall

“In
The Daughter of Highland Hall
, Carrie Turansky sweeps readers back into the early nineteen hundreds, to the glamour of London society as well as the desperate world of those struggling to survive in London’s East End. This beautiful story is filled with endearing characters who will steal your heart and surprises that will keep you engrossed until the very end.”

—M
ELANIE
D
OBSON
, award-winning author of
Chateau of Secrets
and
The Courier of Caswell Hall

“From London’s East End to the royal presentation court, Carrie Turansky pulls back the curtain on Edwardian England in this sweeping new drama.
The Daughter of Highland Hall
will delight romance fans as well as those who like a peek behind the scenes into the lives of the elite and the people who serve them. A delight from the first page to the last.”

—C
ARLA
S
TEWART
, award-winning author of
Stardust
and
The Hatmaker’s Heart

“Giving vivid entry into an Edwardian England setting, from genteel ballrooms to the gritty streets of London’s East End, author Carrie Turansky has created a cast of multilayered, delightfully written characters I found engaging from beginning to end.
The Daughter of Highland Hall
is at its heart a story of personal courage, one sure to please fans of Turansky’s
The Governess of Highland Hall
, as well as readers coming fresh to the series with this book.”

—L
ORI
B
ENTON
, author of
Burning Sky
and
The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn

“From first line to last,
The Daughter of Highland Hall
is a sumptuous Edwardian feast, brimming with romance, history, and spiritual truths. Society and its glitter fade away as what truly matters comes into play. A delightful addition to the Edwardian Brides series!”

—L
AURA
F
RANTZ
, author of
Love’s Fortune

“
The Daughter of Highland Hall
sweeps readers back to historic London where a cast of endearing characters work toward a heart-stirring cause. With excitement happening both upstairs and down, this charming romance is a beautiful addition to Carrie Turansky’s Edwardian Brides series and a reminder that the greatest joys can arrive in the unlikeliest of ways.”

—J
OANNE
B
ISCHOF
, award-winning author of the Cadence of Grace series

“A debutante. A medical missionary. Two disparate worlds.
The Daughter of Highland Hall
celebrates God’s ability to open eyes and soften hearts.”

—M
ONA
H
ODGSON
, author of nearly forty books for adults and children, including the Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek series, the Quilted Heart novellas, and
Prairie Song

“
The Daughter of Highland Hall
is a compelling Edwardian love story that crosses class divides, where characters learn that snagging a titled and wealthy spouse is not the first concern of life. Carrie Turansky’s meticulously researched and beautifully written novel lifts the heart, drawing the reader closer to Christ and reminding her of the possibilities of a faith-driven marriage. Characters that inspire readers to rekindle their romance with the Lord of life as well as with their own husband … How many books can do that?”

—C
ATHY
G
OHLKE
, Christy Award–winning author of
Promise Me This
and
Band of Sisters

BOOKS BY CARRIE TURANSKY

NOVELS
The Governess of Highland Hall
Snowflake Sweethearts
A Man to Trust
Seeking His Love
Along Came Love
Surrendered Hearts

NOVELLAS
Where Two Hearts Meet
Christmas Mail-Order Brides
Kiss the Bride
A Blue and Gray Christmas
A Big Apple Christmas
Wedded Bliss?

THE DAUGHTER OF HIGHLAND HALL
PUBLISHED BY MULTNOMAH BOOKS
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921

All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version.

The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.

Trade Paperback ISBN 978-1-60142-498-3
eBook ISBN 978-1-60142-499-0

Copyright © 2014 by Carrie Turansky

Cover design by Kristopher K. Orr; cover photography by Mike Heath, Magnus Creative

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House LLC, New York, a Penguin Random House Company.

MULTNOMAH and its mountain colophon are registered trademarks of Random House LLC.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Turansky, Carrie.
    The daughter of Highland Hall : a novel / Carrie Turansky. — First edition.
        pages cm — (Edwardian brides)
    ISBN 978-1-60142-498-3 (paperback) — ISBN 978-1-60142-499-0 (electronic) 1. Aristocracy (Social class)—Fiction. 2. Young women—Fiction. 3. Great Britain—History—Edward VII, 1901–1910—Fiction. 4. London (England)—History—20th century—Fiction. I. Title.
    PS3620.U7457D38 2014
    813′.6—dc23

2014023631

This book is dedicated to my daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Peter Morrison. Their love for each other and their hearts to serve those who are in need is a wonderful inspiration to me and to everyone who meets them!

Contents

Cover

Other Books by This Author

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Epigraph

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-three

Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter Twenty-six

Readers Guide

Acknowledgments

About the Author

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

—M
ATTHEW
6:33

ONE
 

London, England

April 1912

If she lived to be one hundred and five, Katherine Evangeline Ramsey would never understand why every debutante must begin the London social season by curtsying to the king and queen. Of course, she was excited to be presented at court and to take part in her first season. She had looked forward to it for years; however, mastering the required skills had proven more challenging than she’d expected.

But her aunt, Lady Louisa Gatewood, insisted that was how every well-bred young lady made her debut into English society and announced she was ready for marriage. Kate certainly hoped her aunt was right. Because marriage to the right man was the only way she would gain control of her life and create a future for herself.

Pulling in a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders and prepared to practice her curtsy once more.

Mr. Philippe Rounpear, her gray-haired dancing master, lowered his bushy, silver eyebrows and pointed his white-gloved finger at Kate. “You must float over the floor like a swan gliding across a lake.” He gave a firm nod. “Try again, please.”

How many times was he going to make her do this? Kate stuffed down her frustration and cast a heated glance at her aunt Louisa, who sat on a high-backed chair by the piano, taking on the role of King George V.

Her aunt stiffened. “Katherine, the only way you will gain a position in society is to take your training seriously.”

“I
am
taking it seriously!” The words flew from Kate’s mouth before she could stop them.

“Then you must conquer these presentation formalities and do them perfectly.”

Kate swallowed the sharp reply rising in her throat, tugged her skirt aside, and stepped into her next curtsy.

Mr. Rounpear’s voice rang out. “No, no! You look as stiff as a broom.” He crossed the oriental carpet of her cousin William Ramsey’s London drawing room and tapped her left shoulder. “You must relax your posture. Think grace, think poise.”

Heat flushed her face. She looked past the dancing master at her younger sister, Penny, who sat next to their aunt, pretending to be Queen Mary. Penny’s eyes danced as she waited for Kate to attempt her next curtsy.

Kate narrowed her gaze at her sister.
Just wait. In two years you will be eighteen, and you’ll have to prepare for your own presentation. You won’t be laughing then!

Mr. Rounpear clapped his hands. “Miss Katherine, our hour is almost over. One more time, please.”

“All right.” Katherine blew out a breath and tried to relax her shoulders. She would get this right or expire in the process. She had to. Her future depended on it.

Lifting her chin, she stepped to the side, then crossed one leg behind the other, and slowly sank down in front of her aunt Louisa.

“Better.” Mr. Rounpear nodded. “Not perfect, but better. Now lower your head, count to three, then rise slowly.”

Katherine’s legs burned as she waited and then rose.

“Now take two steps to the right, and curtsy to the queen.”

Katherine glanced at Penny and took the first step, but when she took the second, her foot tangled in her skirt. She gasped and her hand shot out.

Penny smirked and covered her mouth.

Katherine swayed, struggling to recover her balance.

Mr. Rounpear scowled. “Is that how you will conduct yourself at your presentation?”

“Of course not.” Kate untangled her skirt and turned toward the
windows, frustration bubbling up within. This man was impossible! She would like to see him curtsy fifty times and never lose his balance.

“Face this way!”

Kate clenched her jaw and turned around.

“You must never turn your back on the royal family.” He motioned toward Penny and her aunt.

“They are not the royal family, and neither are you!”

His eyes flashed, and he lifted his hand. “Very well. That will be all for today.”