Love on the Make
By Anne Piper
Annabelle Hewitt is tired of her family. She does love them, but they were too much for her. Borrowing a caravan from her uncle, Annabelle decides she is ready to face the world and find a job … and earn a living.
With her uncle sworn to secrecy … Uncle William never got on with his sister, Annabelle’s mother, and he certainly wanted nothing to do with her father … she parked up in the field, a stone’s throw away from her uncle’s house. Mrs. Child, his housekeeper, didn’t like her anyway!
When Annabelle accepts the role as a nanny to the Maharajah, she doesn’t know what she is setting herself up for … let alone what it’s like to live in India.
Arriving in India, to her dismay, no one meets her at the train station – slightly concerned, she takes local advice and takes the tonga … with rather amusing consequences, for her, that is. The Chaukidar at the Palace, a Mr James Ramsgate, is quite particular with his schedule … his rest and tea time took precedence over picking her up from the station … and so begins a love hate relationship between the two.
Josephine, mother to Tulip, Annabelle’s charge, is another mystery. Although married, the Maharajah had brought Josephine back with him following a trip to England. Something the Maharanee, was not happy about.
Annabelle’s stay in India turns out to be quite pleasant, but little does she know that her arrival is part of Ramsgate’s master plan, until he tells her. With Josephine announcing another pregnancy, they all rush back to England on the first ship … which doesn’t go to plan either.
With Annabelle in on James’ plans, she organises the use of the Maharajah’s house in England. It was big enough for tenants, so why not cash in on that. Well, Annabelle still has a score to settle with James, and with him away visiting family, she finds herself free to bring in tenants and staff, as she pleases.
Much to James’ horror! He calls on his mother for help. Meanwhile, with Annabelle’s family in situ in the house, her plans are still on track. Soon, James and her sister, Cecily, are to be married. Much to the delight of many, including James … after all, having a wealthy wife would put him well on track … But what about Babs?
Barbara Bolling has been pining for James for ever. Heartbroken at the prospect of his marriage to Cecily, she accepts Annabelle’s plan and agrees to go ahead with it.
As plans go, Annabelle’s fails badly, landing her in a dungeon on the Ruritanian side of the Iron Curtain … there’s only one way out of her predicament … the one she’d been fighting all along …
Anne Piper was born in Cardiff and met David Piper in Cambridge, just prior to the second world war. They married in 1945 and shortly after, begun the writing of the first of nine novels. Yes, Giorgio (1961) was made into a film. Other novels include Cuckoo and Early to Bed. Anne Piper died at the age of 96 after following an energetic and full life. She is survived by her four children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
