The Mercer's House Series by Mary Kingswood

A family grown rich in the wool trade. The landed gentry they’ve displaced. And the gentle daughter whose beauty will open the door to an even greater prize - the nobility.Harry Fletcher is almost 50 years old, a widower with a large family and a respectable place in Yorkshire society, well on the road to becoming mayor... moreA family grown rich in the wool trade. The landed gentry they’ve displaced. And the gentle daughter whose beauty will open the door to an even greater prize - the nobility.Harry Fletcher is almost 50 years old, a widower with a large family and a respectable place in Yorkshire society, well on the road to becoming mayor. He’s very contented with his life, so when an attractive widow crosses his path, he’s happy to enjoy her company, but he doesn’t want to marry again and he certainly doesn’t want to abandon his roots in trade and gentrify himself. But he’s also very, very rich, and Lizzie Haygarth is very poor. She’s determined to find herself a new husband, one who won’t keep her struggling in genteel poverty. She sets her cap at Harry, but in the most delicate way imaginable, slowly but steadily drawing him into her net. But it’s not just Harry she needs to convince — it’s his whole family. And it’s not just marriage she has in mind. Her plans are far more ambitious that that.This is a complete story, a prequel to the Mercer’s House series. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. The ebook of this story is available free of charge to Mary Kingswood mailing list subscribers. less

A family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.Julia Fletcher is the unimportant daughter of the Fletcher family, with neither beauty nor wit nor accomplishments, but always in a scrape. Somehow she never manages to get through the day without breaking or spilling or tearing something. She’s quite the despair of her stepmother... moreA family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.Julia Fletcher is the unimportant daughter of the Fletcher family, with neither beauty nor wit nor accomplishments, but always in a scrape. Somehow she never manages to get through the day without breaking or spilling or tearing something. She’s quite the despair of her stepmother. She’s looking forward to their grand new home because it will give her a vast estate to roam over without getting into too much trouble. Or so she hopes.James Plummer is the younger son of an impoverished baronet, forced to sell the imposing family home to the upstart newcomers. James doesn’t mind that; he’s the local clergyman so he’s snug in his rectory, with a curate to do the dreary business of the parish and leave him free to wander about with a gun or a fishing rod. It’s all pretty boring, though; his family, his neighbours, his dull daily round… nothing very exciting happens. Maybe the Fletcher family will liven things up a bit? And outspoken hoyden Julia Fletcher seems just the one to shake things up… maybe a little too much for everyone’s peace of mind.This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom.Book 1 of a 6 book series. A family grown rich in the wool trade. The landed gentry they’ve displaced. And the gentle daughter whose beauty will open the door to an even greater prize - the nobility. less

A family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.Will Fletcher is the eldest son and heir to the family fortune, and although his father is reluctant to relinquish his roots in trade, Will is more than happy to become a gentleman. He looks and sounds the part, but can he act the part, too? He soon finds that the world of high society is not easy to break into... moreA family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.Will Fletcher is the eldest son and heir to the family fortune, and although his father is reluctant to relinquish his roots in trade, Will is more than happy to become a gentleman. He looks and sounds the part, but can he act the part, too? He soon finds that the world of high society is not easy to break into. It’s humiliating enough that the aristocracy disdain him, but how dare a lowly poor relation spurn his attentions?Eloise Whittleton is very glad to be summoned to London to assist her distant cousin the Marchioness of Carrbridge manage her social engagements. For a few weeks she can forget she’s poor and dance her way through the season, storing up a few memories for when she returns to her retired life in Bath. There are some annoyances, though, and handsome, roguish Will Fletcher is everything she despises. When he tries to impress her, she’s determined to teach him a lesson he won’t forget.This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom.Book 2 of a 6 book series. A family grown rich in the wool trade. The landed gentry they’ve displaced. And the gentle daughter whose beauty will open the door to an even greater prize - the nobility. less

A family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.Angie Fletcher is the lively, mischievous daughter of the family. All she wants in her life is music and dancing, plenty of pretty new bonnets, and perhaps just the occasional trick played on her tolerant family. She’s been unusually well-behaved during the season in London, in dread of the least transgression curtailing all those glorious balls... moreA family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.Angie Fletcher is the lively, mischievous daughter of the family. All she wants in her life is music and dancing, plenty of pretty new bonnets, and perhaps just the occasional trick played on her tolerant family. She’s been unusually well-behaved during the season in London, in dread of the least transgression curtailing all those glorious balls. Now the family is off to Bath, and freedom - surely a little game won’t hurt? But Bath residents are not as forgiving as Angie expected, and she soon finds herself in deeper trouble than she could have imagined.Mr B Appleby is a man of strict routine, and even stricter principles. His orderly life was disrupted when his uncle married and cut him out of his expected inheritance. He’s not quite sure what to do with his life, but perhaps something will turn up. He has no chance of marrying now, but he doesn’t care about that - women are flighty, frivolous creatures, not worth noticing, and especially that irritating Fletcher girl, even though she dances like an angel. But then a miracle occurs - an anonymous letter from a secret admirer. There is one woman in Bath who values him, after all. But who can it possibly be? Who would be so daring?This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Book 3 of a 6 book series. less

A family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.Madge Paton has been the mainstay of the Fletcher household for a quarter of a century, and even though her role managing the household and raising the children has been usurped by Harry Fletcher’s new wife, there’s still work to be done for a spinster aunt. She misses their Yorkshire life, but things aren’t so bad in the south of England... moreA family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.Madge Paton has been the mainstay of the Fletcher household for a quarter of a century, and even though her role managing the household and raising the children has been usurped by Harry Fletcher’s new wife, there’s still work to be done for a spinster aunt. She misses their Yorkshire life, but things aren’t so bad in the south of England. If only she didn’t have to put up with that irritating Morgan Plummer, and his argumentative ways.Morgan Plummer has reached the advanced age of fifty without ever achieving anything in his life. Invalided out of the army twenty years ago, he’s lived at his brother’s expense ever since. The arrival of the Fletcher family in the neighbourhood has livened things up, and at last he has a worthy opponent to spar with in grumpy Madge Paton. But both families dislike their bickering, and they’re told to call a truce. To force them to get along, they’re given a puzzle to solve - find the groom who set out to visit his mother and never returned. Two sensible, middle-aged people can’t get into too much trouble with that, can they? But the past has a nasty habit of upending the best laid plans…This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Book 4 of a 6 book series. less

A family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.Johnny Fletcher is exactly where he wants to be - a Fellow at Cambridge, with a lifetime of scholarly pursuits in front of him. He’s not allowed to marry, but he has no need for a wife when he has his books for company... moreA family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.Johnny Fletcher is exactly where he wants to be - a Fellow at Cambridge, with a lifetime of scholarly pursuits in front of him. He’s not allowed to marry, but he has no need for a wife when he has his books for company. But his beautiful sister is on the brink of a wonderful marriage to an earl’s son, so he joins his family for a house party at the earl’s estate. At least there will be a decent library he can hide in. But when he intervenes to protect a young woman from unwanted attention, he finds himself caught up in scandal.Lady Jemima Corsfield married young to please her family. Now her husband’s dead, she’s not allowed to look after her two sons, and she consoles herself by flitting from party to party, and flirting outrageously. The last thing she wants is another husband she doesn’t love. But when she’s caught alone and dishevelled with a stranger, the pressure for her to marry is intense. And if she refuses, she’ll lose her sons altogether. Can she find a way through the tangle, and will she ever find happiness?This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Book 5 of a 6 book series. less

A family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.Michael Plummer has never forgotten the woman he fell passionately in love with a few years ago. He was courting a beautiful heiress, in the hope of rescuing his family from financial ruin and the loss of their home, but it was her companion who won his heart. When she ran away from him, Michael was plunged into despair... moreA family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.Michael Plummer has never forgotten the woman he fell passionately in love with a few years ago. He was courting a beautiful heiress, in the hope of rescuing his family from financial ruin and the loss of their home, but it was her companion who won his heart. When she ran away from him, Michael was plunged into despair. Now both women have returned, and he has a chance to correct the mistakes of the past. But does he have the courage to do the right thing this time?Margarita Brooks is still recovering from the devastating events that almost ruined her life. She’s found a tranquil haven as companion to an elderly woman, but when her employer takes her to a family celebration, she’s brought face to face with the tangled emotions she hoped were left behind, and the web of lies she wove to protect herself. Can she find a way to atone for her errors, and is her heart the price she must pay?Rosie Fletcher has agreed to marry her noble suitor, a connection which will raise her family in society and bring pleasure to a great many people. She’s made up her mind once and for all, and she’s determined to make it work. But her timid nature will put her at a disadvantage in the exalted world of her husband and his family. Rosie must finally stand up for herself to make this marriage the way she wants it, but if she pushes too hard she may lose her chance of happiness altogether.This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Book 6 of a 6 book series. less

A family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.This is a complete story, a sequel to the Mercer’s House series. Please read book 6, A Christmas Betrothal first.A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. The ebook of this story is available free of charge from the Mary Kingswood website.