NETTIE’S SECRET
Book ID/图书代码： 12691019C00043
English Summary/英文概要： 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.
Chinese Summary/中文概要： 耐蒂爱她的艺术家父亲——曾经著名的罗伯特·卡罗尔。他的受欢迎程度下降了，但他的消费习惯总是超过收入，而且他们一直在躲避债权人。内蒂有成为小说家的野心，但她的第一份手稿被出版商拒绝，她继续秘密工作。急需钱的罗伯特与奸诈的艺术品商人德克斯特公爵混在一起。当杜克的死敌、卑鄙的私家侦探萨姆森·韦格把矛头指向罗伯特和杜克时，伦敦考文特花园放荡不羁的生活方式戛然终结。罗伯特和杜克都面临被捕。
在耐蒂忠实的仰慕者拜伦·霍顿的陪伴下，他们最终住进了巴黎的一间阁楼，但当钱用光时，耐蒂寻求德克斯特的帮助。她发现他有一个漂亮的年轻病房，康斯坦斯盖拉德，——消失在神秘的情况下。缺钱的耐蒂、罗伯特和拜伦得到了古怪的巴吉、阿里斯蒂德·杜兰德的帮助，后者帮助他们离开城市去寻找拜伦的水上吉普赛亲戚。拜伦迫切地想要更多地了解他的母亲，这位曾经著名的歌手据说在他很小的时候就去世了。
他们的河上航行带他们到一个小镇俯瞰一个浪漫的城堡和一个意外的会见德克斯特和康斯坦斯，他们现在结婚了。耐蒂怀疑康斯坦斯是被迫参加这场比赛的，但当参孙韦格出现意外的事情失控，警方介入了。除了再次逃跑，他们别无选择，但这一次他们逃到了加泰罗尼亚，在那里他们发现拜伦的母亲还活着，一个住在城堡里的贵妇人。拜伦震惊地发现他有一个弟弟，而耐蒂得知她父亲的伪造品中有一件在伯爵夫人的手里时，更是心烦意乱。
他们在加泰隆尼亚海岸的田庄被毁，当西蒙·威格找到他们，发现伯爵夫人不仅破产了，而且是一个骗子，因为她从来没有合法地嫁给这个错误的伯爵。除了回到英国，别无他法，因为罗伯特希望在英国躲避法律的制裁。回到他们之前的勉强糊口的生活，耐蒂正在写她的第二部小说，被出版商接受，她决定请求威格德怜悯，罗伯特承诺放弃伪造旧主人。如今，作为一名成功的作家，耐蒂的雄心壮志不再是一个秘密，她终于承认了自己对拜伦的感情。（WYL）
Awards/获奖情况：Praise for Dilly Court:
‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express
‘Dilly Court’s latest novel is another page-turner that will keep you gripped to the end – 5 stars’ The People’s Friend
‘As always Dilly keeps you absorbed right to the end’ Choice
‘A rollicking, fast-paced adventure with a hint of romance!’ My Weekly
‘Spellbinding . . . you just keep turning the pages’ Daily Mail
‘A fast-paced, riveting read’ Sunday Express
‘A heart-warming, fast-paced story that will keep you gripped till the end’ The People’s Friend
‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express
‘Atmospheric, vivid and compelling’ My Weekly
‘An excellent, well-researched read’ People’s Friend
‘Perfect for Downton Abbey fans … heart-tugging’ Peterborough Telegraph
About the Author/作者介绍： Dilly Court is a Sunday Times bestselling author of over thirty novels. She grew up in North East London and began her career in television, writing scripts for commercials. She is married with two grown-up children and four grandchildren, and now lives in Dorset on the beautiful Jurassic Coast with her husband.
Format:
Rights Status/版权销售情况：Simplified Chinese/简体中文：AVAILABLE
Complex/Traditional Chinese/繁体中文：AVAILABLE
Sales in other countries/其他国家销售情况：
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