I trust you will forgive me for introducing myself. I am Miss Rosalind Thorne. As I write these words, the year is 1820, and once again it is time for London’s social season to begin. The weather outside is quite damp, as one must expect of a London spring, but it promises to be fine later.

As usual, I have begun my day with a light breakfast in the company of my closest friend, Alice Littlefield. Alice is in the throes of publishing her first novel, and her publisher Mr. Colburn is absolutely delighted with the advance order from the booksellers. This is a new profession for Alice, who previously wrote gossip items for the newspapers, and will be a welcome addition to her translation work.

Alice is not the only one going through changes in her life. I myself have been living independently for some time now. It is by choice, although that was not always the case. My father deserted his family when I was still young, taking my sister with him. My mother did not long survive being abandoned by her spouse, and I was left to shift for myself.

I managed by becoming one of the haut ton’s useful women. We are a cadre of gentlewomen in distressed circumstances who make an informal living by assisting our friends with domestic matters such as writing their correspondence, managing their calendars and guest lists, or playing housekeeper.

For myself, that assistance most unexpectedly expanded to include unravelling instances of blackmail, theft, and, I’m afraid, murder.

It is customary for, a “useful woman,” to take her compensation in small gifts, if there is compensation beyond a few dinners and an invitation to stay. In our society, a woman may not be seen to work for payment and still keep that all important aspect of her character — her gentility. But this past year I have decided I will put matters on a different footing and begin to request payment from the ladies I assist. This is a grave risk, and I find myself unusually worried. I may end up cut out of polite society all together.

This morning, however, I find myself cautiously optimistic. I have received a call from an old friend from my school days. She and I have not seen each other in several years. I understand she has married, and far better than was expected of her. If I may say, in confidence, her parents were both rather neglectful of her and her sisters. Her father was a distant, and rather sarcastic man. Her mother was quite nervous and given to imaginings about ill health, so there was not a great deal of provision made for the girls’ futures. But with this marriage, she has guaranteed their security. It is my understanding that this was much needed. Her youngest sister eloped with a plausible gentleman, and has recently returned, alone, declaring that her former lover is now dead.

With this uneasy arrangement all around her, my friend has indicated she requires my assistance with a matter of urgency. It seems that a string of extremely valuable pearls has gone missing from her jewel case, and she wants me to trace them for her. I strongly suspect that there are complications to her request. She seems to fear that the thief might even be a member of her family!

So, as you can see, this promises to be a very busy day for me. I have already written to Adam Harkness, my, shall we say, acquaintance who is an officer at the Bow Street police station to say that I may require his help in this matter.

My maid comes to tell me the carriage has arrived. I must sign off. Wish me luck. I fear things will only become more tangled before these pearls, and the secrets that go with them are entirely uncovered.

Yrs. Faithfully,
Rosalind Thorne

The Secret of the Lost Pearls, A Useful Woman Mystery #1
Genre: Historical
Release: December 2022
Purchase Link

The resourceful and intrepid Rosalind Thorne, a heroine after Jane Austen’s heart, has a dazzing mystery to solve within Regency-era high society in the latest novel in Darcie Wilde’s nationally bestselling historical series. Ideal for fans of Andrea Penrose, Lauren Willig, and Deanna Raybourn.

Rosalind Thorne may not have a grand fortune of her own, but she possesses virtues almost as prized by the haut ton: discretion, and a web of connections that enable her to discover just about anything about anyone. Known as a “most useful woman,” Rosalind helps society ladies in need—for a modest fee, of course—and her client roster is steadily increasing.

Mrs. Gerald Douglas, née Bethany Hodgeson, presents Rosalind with a particularly delicate predicament. A valuable pearl necklace has gone missing, and Bethany’s husband believes the thief is Nora, Bethany’s disgraced sister. Nora made a scandalous elopement at age sixteen and returned three years later, telling the family that her husband was dead.

But as Rosalind begins her investigations, under cover of helping the daughters of the house prepare for their first London season, she realizes that the family harbors even more secrets than scandals. The intrigue swirling around the Douglases includes fraud, forgery, blackmail, and soon, murder. And it will fall to Rosalind, aided by charming Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, to untangle the shocking truth and discover who is a thief—and who is a killer.

About the author
Darcie Wilde is an award winning, bestselling author of Regency era mysteries and romances. She lives, works, embroiders and bakes in southeast Michigan.

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