Showing results by author "Evelyn Hood" in All Categories

Orphaned Elizabeth Cunningham is taken on as a companion to the lady of the Montgomery household at the age of fourteen. When the mistress dies, Elizabeth becomes housekeeper. and runs the fine household for domineering Rab Montgomery and his sons Matthew and James, all who work for the family shawl-manufacturing business. Elizabeth is only seventeen on the fateful day when overseas naval surgeon Adam Montgomery, Rab’s eldest son, briefly returns home to his father’s house after the death of his fiancée in India. From that day, Elizabeth’s life is changed forever.

Christian Knox dreams of a life beyond that of a Paisley housewife and at thirteen is determined to further her education. Headstrong and enterprising, Christian soon becomes the manager, representing the local weaver women. Years later, she succumbs to a cossetted marriage to an older husband and is forced to give up work and is torn over her attraction to younger Benjamin Selbie.

In the midst of a street brawl, Margaret Knox first encounters Islay McInnes, a Highland girl struggling to support herself and her two cousins in the Paisley slums. Their two lives are polar opposites. With the slums rife with illnesses and as the pox begins to spread, Margaret, seeing it as her Christian duty to help, persuades her friend Jamie Todd to allow Islay and her cousins to live above his weaving shop.

All alone, following her mother's death, seventeen-year-old Eden Murray returns to her deceased father's fishing village in search of her roots and a future. Eden has worked in the fishing industry since the age of twelve and is soon employed by local businesswoman Euphemia Ross. Much to Euphemia's annoyance, Eden and her son Lewis Ross strike up a friendship. But Euphemia has grander plans for her son and is hostile towards Eden in preventing them ever having a future together.

After tragically losing her husband at sea, Eppie Watt must support herself, her daughter Charlotte and mother-in-law and sets to work packing and selling herring in Portsoy Harbour. When her mother-in-law passes, poor Charlotte is sent home to be cared for by Eppie's family. Eppie is thrilled when offered a housekeeper position to Alexander Geddes, a wealthy widower, businessman and father to headstrong Duncan and cloistered Lydia. But Andrew's mother, old Mrs Geddes is set against Eppie and as her interfering intensifies Alexander is left with no choice but to ask his mother to leave.

Meg and Duncan Montgomery move to the flourishing Scottish town of Paisley to find work in the thriving weaving industry. Soon Meg is expecting their first child, Margaret. To make ends meet, they live in Peter Todd’s household, Duncan’s employer and Meg’s days are filled with domestic duties. But soon Meg and Duncan find themselves caught up in the intricate lives of the Todd family and when a tragic accident causes further conflict, driving a wedge between Peter’s grown sons a decision is made to keep a terrible secret from Meg.