He’s desperate for a governess.
She needs to escape her matchmaking sister.
Bath 1815: John Derringer doesn’t need a wife, and he certainly doesn’t need children. Devoted to studying ancient Rome, all he wants after the death of his brother is to disappear into his research. But now he must take on the family estate—and care for his orphaned nephew.
Unable to see past his grief, John cannot face the boy, leaving him to a succession of governesses who fail to tame the unruly youngster.
Evelina Shaw is resigned to staying unmarried. With no dowry and little beauty, the only men she has attracted are widowers wanting a capable woman to look after their children—and she refuses to settle for that.
When she hears of Mr Derringer’s desperate need for a governess, Evelina seizes the opportunity to escape from her sister’s futile matchmaking.
But on arriving at Duriel Hall, Evelina can see hurt and misunderstanding everywhere she looks. As she helps bring healing to the Derringer family, her life becomes entwined with theirs, and neither John nor Evelina can predict the consequences…
A story of hope and forgiveness set in the time of Jane Austen.
Characters in this book
Evelina Shaw
Philip Derringer
John Derringer
Anne Derringer
Mr Partridge
Mr Bromley
Mrs Partridge
Mrs Franklin
Explore the history behind the story
Reviews of Engaging Miss Shaw
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“I found the charm of this book to be the quiet strength of Evelina who coaxes a hidden, equal strength from John without casting her into the aggressive modern woman mold that sits ill (in my opinion) in this genre. Definitely an enjoyable read.”
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“A sweet story of intrigue and romance in a period setting, perfect for curling up with by the fire and reading on rainy days.”
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“I loved Evelina and John with Phillip who brought them together in a fabulous storyline with twists, transformations and tender romance. Very well-written that kept me turning to the end. Highly recommend!”
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“I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was very hard not to stay up half the night reading!”
Discussion Questions
Which character in the book did you like best? What was it that attracted you to them?
Evelina and her sister Cecilia were forced on the charity of an aunt after the death of their parents. Do you sympathise with Cecilia’s choice to make a marriage of convenience in order to escape her situation? Why or why not?
Mrs Franklin has a reputation of being an incurable gossip. Do you think gossipping is incurable? How would you try to cure someone of the habit?
John grieves the loss of his brother by shutting himself away in his study with his work. Philip lashes out at everybody. What other ways do people deal with their grief? How can you best help someone who is grieving?
As a lady without fortune, Evelina has few choices available to her. If she didn’t marry, she would be reliant on the continued goodwill of her brother-in-law to keep a roof over her head. Faced with the choice of relying on someone else’s charity for the rest of your life or becoming a governess, which would you choose and why?
John doesn’t want to punish Philip for his poor behaviour because he feels the boy has been through enough with the loss of his parents. Do you think John was misguided? How would you have dealt differently with the situation?
Evelina is adamant that John should apologise to Philip for treating him unfairly, even though he is a child. John is afraid it would make him look stupid. How easy do you find it to say sorry?
When John believes Evelina doesn’t love him, he says: “What better foundation for married life was there than a shared faith, friendship and common interests?” Which of these do you think is most important in a marriage and why?
Evelina reads Pride and Prejudice to John and Philip. Reading aloud together was a common diversion in the Regency. Does this appeal to you? Why or why not?
John felt inadequate to step into his brother’s shoes and become a father to Philip. Have you ever had to take on a role for which you felt inadequate? How did you cope?
Hearts of the Hall
