The Walnut Tree: A Holiday Tale - Softcover

Todd, Charles

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062236873 ISBN 13: 9780062236876

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, 2013

Synopsis

I was in Paris the day the French Army was mobilized. In 1914, while visiting her friend Madeleine, Lady Elspeth Douglas' life is thrown into chaos when war breaks out and the Germans quickly overrun Belgium, threatening France. Having just agreed to marry Alain, Madeleine's dashing brother, Lady Elspeth watches him leave to join his unit, and then she sets out for England, only to find herself trapped on the French coast. Caught amid a sea of stranded travelers, terrified refugees, and wounded men overflowing the port of Calais, the restless Elspeth - daughter of a Highland aristocrat whose distinguished family can trace its roots back to the court of Mary, Queen of Scots - decides to make herself useful, carrying water to weary soldiers near the Front. It is an act of charity that almost gets her killed when enemy shells begin to explode around her. To her rescue comes Captain Peter Gilchrist, who pulls her away from the battle and leads her to safety. But before they can properly say good-bye, Elspeth and Peter are separated. Back in London, surrounded by familiar comforts, Elspeth is haunted by the horrors she witnessed in France. She also cannot forget the gallant Peter Gilchrist, even though she has promised herself to Alain. Transformed by her experience, Elspeth goes to London and enrolls in a nursing course, where she meets a fellow nurse in training, Bess Crawford. It is a daring move, made without the consent of Elspeth's guardian, her cousin Kenneth, a high-handed man with rigid notions of class and femininity. Yet Elspeth Douglas is a woman with a mind of her own, which-as she herself says-is a blessing and a curse. She is determined to return to the battlefields of France to do her part ...and to find the man she has no right to love, no matter how far Cousin Kenneth may go to stop her. But before she can set things right with Alain, he goes missing and then Peter is gravely wounded. In a world full of terror and uncertainty, can the sweetness of love survive or will Elspeth's troubled heart become another casualty of this terrible war? A poignant, compelling tale brimming with adventure, danger, and love, The Walnut Tree is an enchanting holiday gift and a wonderful companion to Charles Todd's acclaimed Bess Crawford series.

About this title

About the Author

Charles Todd is the New York Times bestselling author of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries, the Bess Crawford mysteries, and two stand-alone novels. Among the honors accorded to the Ian Rutledge mysteries are the Barry Award and nominations for the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association’s Dilys Award, the Edgar and Anthony Awards in the U.S., and the John Creasey Award in the UK. A mother-and-son writing team, they live on the East Coast.

From the Back Cover

In the tradition of Downton Abbey comes this bittersweet love story, set at Christmas during the opening days of World War I

In 1914, while in Paris visiting her friend Madeleine, Lady Elspeth Douglas's life is thrown into chaos when the Germans quickly overrun Belgium. Made-leine's brother Alain, leaving to join his regiment, has just proposed, and Elspeth sets out for England to tell her family. Instead, she finds herself trapped in the fighting along the French coast, shelled by the enemy. To her rescue comes Captain Peter Gilchrist. But before they can say good-bye, Elspeth and Peter are separated.

Safely in London, Elspeth is haunted by the horrors she wit-nessed in France. And she cannot forget the gallant Peter Gilchrist.

Abandoning her aristocratic world, Elspeth trains as a nurse and returns to France. There, she finds the man she has no right to love, and amid the ferocity and uncertainty of battle, she must decide whether to follow her heart or her duty--or will a cruel war take both men from her?

Edition details

• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0062236873
• ISBN 13: 9780062236876
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272