The Ambitious Stepmother

The Countess Ashby de la Zouch would not be every parent's choice of chaperone for a beautiful teenager, still fewer would entrust her with finding the girl a husband. But the second Mrs Alderman Franklyn-Green is willing to go to any lengths to get rid of her unwanted stepdaughter Virginia. Sadly, the exiled English Court at St Germain does not live up to their expectations. Worse, any hopes of enjoying fine French cuisine are dashed when a fellow guest is poisoned. Once more the Countess and Alpiew are plunged into a dangerous investigation, unraveling plots against three kings and negotiating the culinary eccentricities of the Court of Versailles.