The Gardener Earl

Felix Halenhurst, Earl Holmshaw, is wealthy, handsome, clever, and has an avocation of gardening. His friends tease him about being born with more than a silver spoon in his mouth, and challenge him to show that he can hold down a labouring job for three months. Felix’s friend, Perry, arranges a place with Perry’s godmother, Emily, Lady Staines to attempt this wager.Coincidentally, Lady Staines is entertaining her great-niece, Apollonia, known as Polly, who is in disgrace for turning down all the suitors her parents have presented to her. Apollonia’s main passion is in gardening, something her parents cannot comprehend.Felix and Polly are drawn to each other from their first, unconventional meeting, and draw closer as a disgruntled gardener makes murderous attack, and as Polly’s parents organise a marriage for her to a most unsuitable and unscrupulous man.