Silk and Steel — Catherine King

Mariah Bowes's father, Ezekiel, is a respectable iron master, but unbeknownst to her he has a past he wants to hide. He is determined to ensure that no one will ever discover the terrible secret he has worked so hard to conceal. The son of a coal miner, Daniel Thorpe strives to better himself and now that he has a job as supervisor at Bowes ironworks, he has succeeded. But his affair with the beautiful Lily has devastating consequences for Mariah. After the death of her mother, Mariah's father tells her that she must marry a man 40 years her senior. She can think of nothing worse and decides instead to leave, giving up the life she has known. But, alone and penniless, Mariah is at the mercy of the fates and soon must draw on all her strength and courage if she is to survive.