Dead Men's Shoes,

Sibyl Faunthorpe moves through a world where courtship is never merely personal. Sir Wilford Cardonnel's polished attentions, backed by his formidable sister Phœbe and the prestige of the How, expose the gulf between county aristocracy and prosperous newcomers like the Trenchards, while her uncle Stephen eagerly imagines a brilliant marriage that would secure Sibyl's future and status. But Sibyl resists more fiercely than anyone realizes: beneath her composure lies a secret devotion to another man, and the threat of an estranged husband's return makes every social advance feel dangerous. Around her, Redcastle's shabby streets, respectable bustle, and divided households mirror the novel's concerns with class, appearance, and ambition. At the Faunthorpe home, Sibyl's teasing, resentful sisters Marion and Jenny reveal family rivalries, money troubles, and sharp-edged affection, while loyal Jane agrees to guard Sibyl's secret. As gossip, practical domesticity, and social maneuvering collide, Sir Wilford's confident plan to draw Sibyl closer turns courtship into a tense game of power, desire, and obligation. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.