NETTIE CARROLL'S SECRET

Nettie loves her artist father, the once famous Robert Carroll. His popularity has declined but his spending habits always exceed his income, and they are constantly on the run from creditors. Nettie has ambitions to become a novelist, but her first manuscript is rejected by the publishers, and she continues to work in secret. Desperate for money, Robert is mixed up with crooked art dealer, Duke Dexter. The Carrolls bohemian lifestyle in London's Covent Garden comes to an abrupt end when Duke's arch enemy, sleazy private detective Samson Wegg points a finger at both Robert and Duke, who both face arrest.

Accompanied by Nettie's faithful admirer, Byron Horton, they end up in a Paris garret but when the money runs out Nettie seeks Dexter's help. She discovers that he has a pretty young ward, Constance Gaillard, who disappears under mysterious circumstances. Short of money, Nettie, Robert and Byron are befriended by eccentric bargee, Aristide Durand, who helps them to get away from the city in search of Byron's water gypsy relatives. Byron is desperate to know more about his mother, a once famous singer, who allegedly died when he was very young.

Their river voyage takes them to a small town overlooked by a romantic castle and an unexpected meeting with Dexter and Constance, who are now married. Nettie suspects that the match was forced upon Constance, but when Samson Wegg turns up unexpectedly matters get out of hand and the police are involved. There is no choice other than to take flight again, but this time they flee to Catalonia where they discover that Byron's mother is alive and well, a title lady living in a castle. Byron is shocked to find he has a younger brother, and Nettie is distraught to learn that one of her father's forgeries is in the Contessa's possession.

Their idyll on the Catalonian coast is ruined when Samson Wegg tracks them down and reveals that the Contessa is not only bankrupt, but also a fraud as she was never legally married to the errant count. There is nothing for it but to return to England, where Robert hopes to hide from the law in plain sight. Back to their previous hand to mouth existence, Nettie works on her second novel, which is accepted by the publisher and she decides to take matters into her own hands. Following a plan worked out with Byron's aid, Nettie traps Duke into signing a disclaimer that releases Constance from a sham marriage. Facing imminent arrest, Duke throws himself on Wegg's mercy, and Robert promises to give up forging old masters. Now a successful author, Nettie's ambition is no longer a secret and she finally admits her feelings for Byron.

Dilly Court grew up in North East London and began her career working in television. She is married with two grown up children and now lives in Dorset on the beautiful Jurassic Coast.