num_pages: 318
description: A poignant and thrilling tale of intrigue mystery and romance set in the dramatic landscape of Englands Lake District.Shortly after her mother's death in a Swiss plane crash Jo Roswell is sent from the London auction house where she works to the remote and mysterious Thirlbeck  stately home of the Earl of Askew. Jo's task is to evaluate the house's contents for a sale but she soon finds herself drawn into the complex lives of Thirlbeck's inhabitants each with their own secrets and desires.Jo is absorbed by the tragic story of The Spanish Lady whose young life was cut short at Thirlbeck many centuries before. She also encounters La Espaola the brilliant diamond which according to legend brings disaster to all who try to possess it. And she is shocked to learn of her own mother's connection to Thirlbeck.Meet the residents of ThirlbeckRobert Birkett the Earl of Askew: returning to Thirlbeck after many years abroad a decorated war hero who also spent time in prison after a fatal car accident for which he was blamed.Carlota the Spanish Condesa: the Earl's sophisticated companion who yearns to leave the cold of Cumberland for the warmth of the Mediterranean sun.Nat Birkett: the local farmer and single father of two young boys who is the reluctant heir to Thirlbeck. His passion is for the land rather than titles and possessions.Gerald Stanton: Jo's wise mentor and friend who is like a father to her.George Tolson: the brooding keeper of Thirlbeck who jealously guards it from unwelcome strangers.Jessica Tolson: George's intelligent but fragile granddaughter who must be protected from herself.Jo will struggle with difficult discoveries as she unlocks the puzzles which link Thirlbeck's past and present residents.About Catherine GaskinBorn in Ireland and raised in Australia Catherine Gaskin studied music at the conservatorium in Sydney before becoming a bestselling author at the age of just seventeen. After moving to London she met her future husband a US TV executive on a blind date. The couple lived in Manhattan for ten years before moving to the Virgin Islands followed by Ireland and then the Isle of Man. After her husband's death Catherine returned to Australia where she spent the rest of her life.During her lifetime Catherine Gaskin's books sold over 40 million copies worldwide and she was known as The Queen of Storytellers and The Girl with the Golden Pen.
language: English
title: The Property of a Gentleman
publisher: Corazon Books