Queenie's whim, Volume 1 (of 3) : $b A novel

Queenie Marriott is a modestly educated young woman who takes a teaching post at the respectable yet austere Granite Lodge, a boarding school for ladies. She lives with her little sister Emmie, a scholarship pupil whose future depends on Queenie's meager earnings and unwavering dedication. The novel opens with Queenie's reflections on the classic ugly‑duckling tale, a metaphor for her own struggle to be seen as more than a plain‑spoken, low‑paid governess in a world that values appearance and wealth.

Within the cloistered halls, Queenie navigates the expectations of the stern Miss Titheridge, the whispered judgments of other teachers, and the fragile hopes of the girls under her care. Her sharp brown eyes, often compared to bottomless wells, become both a source of empathy and a silent shield as she balances the demands of the school with the pressing need to support Emmie. As the first term unfolds, subtle tensions hint at deeper secrets hidden behind the respectable façade of Granite Lodge.