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Nicola's Notes

I am very honoured and proud to be part of The Steepwood Scandals. This series of Regency books is set in the Steepwood Abbey villages and traces the lives of the inhabitants. The Steepwood Scandals combines drama, intrigue, mystery and lots of wonderful historical romance. It has been great fun collaborating with many top M& B historical authors and developing the Steepwood story. 

When I was researching for my two books in The Steepwood Scandal I went to the Salcey Forest, and old oak woodland in Northamptonshire. Originally one of the Royal Hunting Forests, it dates back to the time of William the Conqueror and contains open grassy "lawns" which were used to provide hay and pasture for deer and cattle. These days the Forest contains a mix of oak, ash and conifer and is cared for by the Forestry Commission. Nearby is Sulgrave Manor, which I used as the basis for Hewly Manor. Sulgrave, the home of George Washington's ancestors, is a beautiful Tudor manor house with a glorious rose and lavender garden.

About the book

A Companion of Quality is Book 4 in the Steepwood Scandal Regency Series.

Miss Caroline Whiston has come down in the world. The daughter of a spendthrift baronet, she now has to earn a living as a governess companion. Then her old friend Julia Chessford invites Caroline to come to work for her at Hewly Manor, near Steepwood, the home of her guardian Admiral Brabant, who is dangerously ill. Caroline's arrival co-incides with the return of the Admiral's son Lewis, a sea captain reluctantly returned home to take up his inheritance. As Caroline is drawn into the lives and intrigues of the Abbey villages, the scheming Julia spins a web to catch Lewis. But how long can Caroline stay at Hewly when she is so deeply attracted to Lewis herself?

A Companion of Quality was published in the UK in August 2001 and in the USA direct in September 2002. It was reprinted in the UK in 2007.