The captivating new novel from Diney Costeloe, bestselling author of The Throwaway Children and The Girl With No Name. In London in 1912, Mabel Oakley and her family are typical of their time. Her father Andrew is a solicitor, her mother Alice keeps the home fires burning and her brothers plan to become skilled apprentices.

Mabel would rather die than go into domestic service like her cousin, and is determined to train as a secretary. But one February morning, a terrible tragedy strikes Andrew on the way to work and the lives of the Oakley family are forever changed. Swallowing her pride, Mabel takes on a position as a maid and finds it every bit as unpleasant as she expected.

But when help comes from an unexpected direction, Mabel finds her dreams might not be lost after all...