The Governor's Ladies — Deryn Lake

The year is 1775 and the town of Boston, Massachusetts is seething with unrest, as the War of Independence is about to erupt. Having risen through the ranks to become a colonel, Thomas Gage has known many battles in his time. For years he believed he did not have the time or the inclination for romance…until he met and fell in love with the vivacious American Margaret Kemble, eventually winning her hand in marriage. Their years together are happy, and Thomas' career flourishes as he becomes the British Governor of Massachusetts. But tensions erupt in the state and in the Governor's mansion. Distracted by a young slave girl, Thomas seeks solace in teaching her the pleasures of reading and writing. But with conflict, heartbreak and death raging, threatening to engulf all involved, will true love and happiness prevail? A remarkable novel, The Governor's Ladies explores the complexity of human nature amidst the turmoil of love, loss and revenge.