Author Note

The idea for this book began when I was looking at Hogarth’s prints, A Harlot’s Progress. It is the story of an innocent country maid who arrives in London seeking work, becomes a prostitute, is imprisoned and dies at the tender age of twenty-three. It was an all too common tale in Georgian England. Poor girls had difficulty enough earning a living, and without a “character” it was almost impossible. As for ladies, if they lost their reputation they had little hope of a good marriage.

I decided that Molly, my heroine, would set up a safe haven for women who had fallen upon hard times. However, it is important for both Molly and her “girls” to maintain the utmost respectability if they are to keep the support of the local townspeople. That is why Molly is so worried when a party of rakish gentlemen moves into Compton Parva. She is confident that she herself is immune to their charms, but that is before she meets the devilishly attractive Beau Russington!

I really enjoyed making the sparks fly between Molly and Russ, and I even managed to weave in happy endings for some of her girls—after all, what is the point of being an author if one cannot enjoy oneself?

Happy reading.