A London Lass

Description

When Janey has to leave her home after her stepfather beats her up so badly her mother fears for her safety, she finds herself in a children's home deep in the Sussex countryside. Unused to open space, fields and love she soons settles in and the friends she makes quickly become her new family. But, at the age of sixteen, Janey has to leave the home and is found a job in Balham as a housemaid. She feels abandoned again and the job is awful. Lonely and miserable, things get even worse when Janey falls ill with influenza and nearly dies. Although she recovers, Janey's situation doesn't improve until she meets Christy, a blind woman, and is employed as her companion. The two women become friends and when Janey meets Christy's son, Charles, she soon realises that she has fallen in love with him. But Charles is married and Janey fears that she will never find the happiness she has always longed for.

Elizabeth Waite was born in Tooting, South London and lived there until she was 34. During the war she worked as a bus conductress at Merton Garage and in 1956 she and her husband moved to Devon and bought their first guesthouse. She started writing when she retired.

'If you like your heroines pure, beautiful and universally beloved; Cockneys to have hearts of gold under their rough exteriors; and sentiment rather than emotion, look no further. This is the book for you' - HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW Other praise for Elizabeth Waite 'Marvellous storytelling from the best' - Martina Cole 'A natural with a great sense of place' - Beryl Kingston