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Annie's Secret
North Devon, England, 1887
When Lady Eleanor Fellwood gave birth to a badly deformed baby, she insisted that the child be adopted as far away as possible. However, that proved difficult to accomplish, and so, in return for payment, Sabina Carter, an impoverished widow living locally, agreed to raise the little boy as a foundling. The child’s father, Lord Charles Fellwood of Hartford Manor, warned Sabina that the matter must be treated in the strictest confidence or her family would be evicted from their home. As far as Lady Eleanor was concerned, the child was being cared for miles away.
All was well for several years until fate took a hand and, against his parents’ wishes, Robert Fellwood, the heir to the Hartford Estate, married Sabina’s daughter, Annie. Robert arranged for his mother-in-law, Sabina, and her family to reside in the Lodge House, situated at the end of the Manor House driveway. A house that Lady Eleanor passed regularly, and it was not long before she spotted Danny’s dark curls among the Carter redheads. As she looked into the child’s eyes and noted his disabilities, she recognised her son.
Now, at seven years old, Danny has had numerous operations to correct his disabilities and is a happy, healthy child. However, his presence is a source of constant anguish for his birth mother as, day after day, she watches him play in the garden. Her husband, Charles, and son, Robert, are aghast when she announces that she wants him back! An impossible situation for all concerned, and a rift develops between Robert and Annie as he struggles to find a solution to suit everyone.
Over the years, Lady Eleanor has steadfastly refused to acknowledge her daughter-in-law, for she disapproves of Annie’s lower-class origins. When a freak accident forces the two women to spend time together, they inevitably find themselves drawn into conversation. Before long, the years of pent-up resentment and family secrets surface as home truths are aired.
Will the two women be rescued from their precarious situation unscathed? And, if so, will the family survive the scandal that is about to be unleashed?
When Lady Eleanor Fellwood gave birth to a badly deformed baby, she insisted that the child be adopted as far away as possible. However, that proved difficult to accomplish, and so, in return for payment, Sabina Carter, an impoverished widow living locally, agreed to raise the little boy as a foundling. The child’s father, Lord Charles Fellwood of Hartford Manor, warned Sabina that the matter must be treated in the strictest confidence or her family would be evicted from their home. As far as Lady Eleanor was concerned, the child was being cared for miles away.
All was well for several years until fate took a hand and, against his parents’ wishes, Robert Fellwood, the heir to the Hartford Estate, married Sabina’s daughter, Annie. Robert arranged for his mother-in-law, Sabina, and her family to reside in the Lodge House, situated at the end of the Manor House driveway. A house that Lady Eleanor passed regularly, and it was not long before she spotted Danny’s dark curls among the Carter redheads. As she looked into the child’s eyes and noted his disabilities, she recognised her son.
Now, at seven years old, Danny has had numerous operations to correct his disabilities and is a happy, healthy child. However, his presence is a source of constant anguish for his birth mother as, day after day, she watches him play in the garden. Her husband, Charles, and son, Robert, are aghast when she announces that she wants him back! An impossible situation for all concerned, and a rift develops between Robert and Annie as he struggles to find a solution to suit everyone.
Over the years, Lady Eleanor has steadfastly refused to acknowledge her daughter-in-law, for she disapproves of Annie’s lower-class origins. When a freak accident forces the two women to spend time together, they inevitably find themselves drawn into conversation. Before long, the years of pent-up resentment and family secrets surface as home truths are aired.
Will the two women be rescued from their precarious situation unscathed? And, if so, will the family survive the scandal that is about to be unleashed?
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2025
2 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Marcia Clayton
7 books54 followersMarcia Clayton writes historical fiction with a sprinkling of romance and mystery in a heartwarming family saga that spans the Regency period through Victorian times.
As a child, Marcia often had to amuse herself as her siblings were several years older than her, and her arrival was something of a shock to her middle-aged parents. Her favourite pastimes were writing stories and reading, and she adored the Enid Blyton books, particularly The Famous Five and The Adventure Series. These books established her love of literature, which has remained with her to this day.
A farmer’s daughter, Marcia, was born in North Devon and is proud to be a Devon Maid. Over the years, she has been employed in various occupations, primarily to work around raising her three sons, Stuart, Paul, and David. She has worked in banking and nursing and, for many years, was the School Transport Manager for the local authority. Now retired, Marcia spends a lot of her time writing historical fiction but also enjoys gardening, researching her family history, and walking in the lovely Devon countryside with Bryan, her husband of fifty-three years.
Marcia has written seven books in the historical family saga, The Hartford Manor Series. You can also read her free short story, Amelia, a spin-off tale from the first book, The Mazzard Tree. Amelia, a little orphan girl of 4, is abandoned in Victorian London with her brothers, Joseph and Matthew. To find out what happens to her, download the story here: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/amelia-fr...
In addition to writing books, Marcia writes blogs about a variety of subjects and a monthly newsletter, which she shares with her readers. If you would like to join Marcia’s mailing list, please subscribe to her website, The Devon Maid Book Corner: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/
As a child, Marcia often had to amuse herself as her siblings were several years older than her, and her arrival was something of a shock to her middle-aged parents. Her favourite pastimes were writing stories and reading, and she adored the Enid Blyton books, particularly The Famous Five and The Adventure Series. These books established her love of literature, which has remained with her to this day.
A farmer’s daughter, Marcia, was born in North Devon and is proud to be a Devon Maid. Over the years, she has been employed in various occupations, primarily to work around raising her three sons, Stuart, Paul, and David. She has worked in banking and nursing and, for many years, was the School Transport Manager for the local authority. Now retired, Marcia spends a lot of her time writing historical fiction but also enjoys gardening, researching her family history, and walking in the lovely Devon countryside with Bryan, her husband of fifty-three years.
Marcia has written seven books in the historical family saga, The Hartford Manor Series. You can also read her free short story, Amelia, a spin-off tale from the first book, The Mazzard Tree. Amelia, a little orphan girl of 4, is abandoned in Victorian London with her brothers, Joseph and Matthew. To find out what happens to her, download the story here: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/amelia-fr...
In addition to writing books, Marcia writes blogs about a variety of subjects and a monthly newsletter, which she shares with her readers. If you would like to join Marcia’s mailing list, please subscribe to her website, The Devon Maid Book Corner: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 30, 2025
A wonderful addition to this series!
In Annie’s Secret, the spiteful Lady Eleanor, who was only too eager to get rid of her disabled baby as soon as he was born, is now having a change of mind when she sees Danny, who is now seven, playing in the grounds of the Manor. Secretly, she watches him from the shrubbery, but it hasn’t gone unnoticed, as Danny often notices her smiling at him.
As the story unfolds, tempers flare, relationships are strained, and accidents occur, with a secret coming to light. And amidst all this, various other stories are unfolding, with one or two being resolved as you read on, and some to be continued in another story. I’m looking forward to what happens between Jimmy and Nell. And I adored Eli, bless him.
Marcia Clayton has written another wonderful story to add to the ever-growing Hartford Manor Series. I enjoyed it greatly and can highly recommend it.
In Annie’s Secret, the spiteful Lady Eleanor, who was only too eager to get rid of her disabled baby as soon as he was born, is now having a change of mind when she sees Danny, who is now seven, playing in the grounds of the Manor. Secretly, she watches him from the shrubbery, but it hasn’t gone unnoticed, as Danny often notices her smiling at him.
As the story unfolds, tempers flare, relationships are strained, and accidents occur, with a secret coming to light. And amidst all this, various other stories are unfolding, with one or two being resolved as you read on, and some to be continued in another story. I’m looking forward to what happens between Jimmy and Nell. And I adored Eli, bless him.
Marcia Clayton has written another wonderful story to add to the ever-growing Hartford Manor Series. I enjoyed it greatly and can highly recommend it.
October 29, 2025
Into the sixth book of the Hartford Manor series, and the chickens continue coming home to roost for the snobbish and entitled members of the oh-so-upper-class Fellwood family. In the fifth book we saw Lady Lilliana get her comeuppance—and yes, she’d been wronged, but as she was mean and vindictive to a criminal extent before she was aware of that fact I’ve no sympathy for her.
Now it’s the turn of Lady Eleanor, who rid herself of the disabled child to which she gave birth by giving him away for adoption, stipulating that he should be taken far from her locality so that she’d never be at risk of seeing him. She wasn’t best pleased to discover, some years down the line, that he had in fact been adopted by Sabina Carter, the personification of Eleanor’s conscience, given that she’s gone to great lengths to raise Danny—the name he’s known by—and to find surgery for him which has vastly improved his disabilities. He’s altogether more aesthetically-pleasing, so what a surprise for Eleanor to find that she’d like to know him after all, as she spies on him at play.
Not possible, she’s told by son Robert, whose wife Annie is another thorn in Eleanor’s side. Not only did Robert marry far beneath him, to—shock, horror—a member of the working classes, but to a former maid in his mother’s own house. Further, she’s also the daughter of that same Sabina Carter, walking reminder of aspects of the Ellwood family which they’d rather forget. Eleanor is now prepared, albeit grudgingly, to accept her son’s misalliance—in his mother’s eyes—in order to have access to Danny. Now however it’s Annie who’s saying no, with good and valid reason, but it’s driving a wedge between her and Robert, who’s stuck in the middle and moving towards the wrong side of the argument.
Eleanor’s been kept unaware of the real reason for Annie’s unceremonious dismissal from the house some years ago, and she’d probably have died from apoplexy if she’d known—which might not have been a bad thing, as now a dangerous situation develops, during which she’s to have the scales torn from her eyes in a rude awakening of some magnitude. The fallout—I leave to you to find that out for yourselves.
Elsewhere, the already-large cast of characters continues to increase and multiply as life goes on, with births and marriages expected and the odd waif or stray joining one of the local families. Author Marcia Clayton somehow manages to keep the reins on them as they move within the landscape steeped in historic custom and colour which she’s painted with her usual skill. If you’ve been following the Hartford Manor series this far then I suggest you stop reading this and get reading your own copy of Annie’s Secret, pronto.
Now it’s the turn of Lady Eleanor, who rid herself of the disabled child to which she gave birth by giving him away for adoption, stipulating that he should be taken far from her locality so that she’d never be at risk of seeing him. She wasn’t best pleased to discover, some years down the line, that he had in fact been adopted by Sabina Carter, the personification of Eleanor’s conscience, given that she’s gone to great lengths to raise Danny—the name he’s known by—and to find surgery for him which has vastly improved his disabilities. He’s altogether more aesthetically-pleasing, so what a surprise for Eleanor to find that she’d like to know him after all, as she spies on him at play.
Not possible, she’s told by son Robert, whose wife Annie is another thorn in Eleanor’s side. Not only did Robert marry far beneath him, to—shock, horror—a member of the working classes, but to a former maid in his mother’s own house. Further, she’s also the daughter of that same Sabina Carter, walking reminder of aspects of the Ellwood family which they’d rather forget. Eleanor is now prepared, albeit grudgingly, to accept her son’s misalliance—in his mother’s eyes—in order to have access to Danny. Now however it’s Annie who’s saying no, with good and valid reason, but it’s driving a wedge between her and Robert, who’s stuck in the middle and moving towards the wrong side of the argument.
Eleanor’s been kept unaware of the real reason for Annie’s unceremonious dismissal from the house some years ago, and she’d probably have died from apoplexy if she’d known—which might not have been a bad thing, as now a dangerous situation develops, during which she’s to have the scales torn from her eyes in a rude awakening of some magnitude. The fallout—I leave to you to find that out for yourselves.
Elsewhere, the already-large cast of characters continues to increase and multiply as life goes on, with births and marriages expected and the odd waif or stray joining one of the local families. Author Marcia Clayton somehow manages to keep the reins on them as they move within the landscape steeped in historic custom and colour which she’s painted with her usual skill. If you’ve been following the Hartford Manor series this far then I suggest you stop reading this and get reading your own copy of Annie’s Secret, pronto.
January 23, 2026
Annie’s Secret is book 6 in the Hartford Manor series and it is a captivating addition to the story. This time the focus is on young Danny as well as Annie and Robert’s relationship, strained now because of his mother’s insistence that she wants Danny back with her, disregarding the fact that she abandoned him at birth because of his disabilities. Annie and Robert have fallen out over this and she innocently seeks solace in the company of a young Scottish writer who wants more than friendship from her.
The backdrop of Victorian Devon and the people of the community – some well-known from the previous books and a few new ones – serves up a rich tapestry of life that keeps the reader turning the pages.
This series really ought to be a Sunday evening drama on the BBC.
The backdrop of Victorian Devon and the people of the community – some well-known from the previous books and a few new ones – serves up a rich tapestry of life that keeps the reader turning the pages.
This series really ought to be a Sunday evening drama on the BBC.
November 20, 2025
Annie and her mother in law, the entitled and snobbish Lady Eleanor are still not getting along. As well as the obvious reasons, Eleanor throws another curveball. Danny the child that she abandoned as a baby because of his deformities has been brought up by Annie’s mum, Sabina, has greatly improved with the love and patience he has been given as well as the pioneering operations he has received. Therefore Eleanor wants him back. This puts a strain on Annie and Robert’s marriage and things go from bad to worse when she feels neglected by him and another man starts showing interest in Annie. This makes Robert insecure although he could be self projecting because of a secret that he is keeping from Annie. The situation comes to a head when Annie and Eleanor are involved in an accident that forces them to be together alone for a long period of time and some home truths are told. This is another beautifully written and expertly crafted story. I admire the research done especially around the history of Queen Victoria’s jubilee. Like the other books in the series this is clean, easy reading but with many plot threads that will keep you invested through out and it looks promising that there will be a seventh book. Don’t want to spoil it but the inevitable fall out from Annie and Eleanor’s accident will likely take centre stage, as well as whatever is happening with Jimmy Chugg and the beautiful Nell, he meets in Barnstable. She is in trouble with some nefarious people who may be familiar to fans of the Hartford Manor series. Could a mysterious package that she gives to Jimmy to keep safe help her or finally bring these nefarious people to Hartford’s door step?
October 23, 2025
The latest book of the Hartford Series deepens the storyline and draws on past events to make a riveting read. Things never run smoothly for Annie and Robert Fellwood, especially as Annie's mother-in-law has regrets for past events and seeks a reconciliation that may not be all it appears to be. The fallout is far-reaching. Like the other books in the series, there are parallel stories happening alongside the main one, and we jump from one to another as the book progresses, and there are suggestions that they will become central events of future books. At first, it was difficult to get into the main story, as there are now many strands to the family, as well as happenings, that need explaining. But once over that hurdle, what follows is an exciting tale of what will happen next. The characters are enjoyable, as is the setting, this time split between London and Queen Victoria’s jubilee celebration, and Devon. And as before, there are tugs on the heartstrings as another waif is added to the growing character list. I found this to be an enjoyable read, and it adds to the history that is fast developing around the Fellwoods.
December 3, 2025
I began reading the Hartford Manor books with Betsy, which is actually the prequel to the series. It was, in some senses, a harrowing story of a hard and difficult childhood, set against a background of the Devon countryside in the 1800s. In that book, Marcia Clayton brought to life a host of characters, with their own dreams, fears and domestic dramas, all of whom have grown organically in the ensuing books.
In Annie’s Secret, two shocking incidents from the past come together to threaten the hitherto happy marriage of Annie and Robert Fellwood. I will not detail these incidents as it may spoil these wonderful stories for new readers. Suffice to say, Annie is beset by doubts and resentment as Robert, engrossed with his own secrets and torn by divided loyalties, fails to support her. It’s an expertly teased out story, enhanced by the hustle and bustle of life surrounding the main characters. If you have not yet discovered the Hartford Manor series, I would urge you to check them out. You have many enjoyable hours of reading ahead of you and more than a few surprises along the way.
In Annie’s Secret, two shocking incidents from the past come together to threaten the hitherto happy marriage of Annie and Robert Fellwood. I will not detail these incidents as it may spoil these wonderful stories for new readers. Suffice to say, Annie is beset by doubts and resentment as Robert, engrossed with his own secrets and torn by divided loyalties, fails to support her. It’s an expertly teased out story, enhanced by the hustle and bustle of life surrounding the main characters. If you have not yet discovered the Hartford Manor series, I would urge you to check them out. You have many enjoyable hours of reading ahead of you and more than a few surprises along the way.
December 3, 2025
The fabulous Hartford Series, another great read. Family drama, an unfortunate accident, a strain on Annie and Robert's marriage due to Eleanor wanting her son back after years of Annie's Mum, Sabina, raising him and doing everything she can to improve his life. Robert is harbouring a secret from Annie (you will have to read it to find out!) This is another beautiful masterpiece by the author. Beautiful written and well-deveopled characters that draw you in. I highly recommend this amazing read.
December 17, 2025
beautiful
I have to admit to not reading these books in order—however it has not distracted me from the story. They are penned beautifully, well written with what feels like ease. The story flows and keeps you wanting more. It was like greeting old friends and I knew who was who with the addition for me of a new character. This story still follows the stories of Annie and her family. And I’m excited to see what happens next, lol to be continued was traumatic lol lol in a good way. Great books and ones I would recommend …
I have to admit to not reading these books in order—however it has not distracted me from the story. They are penned beautifully, well written with what feels like ease. The story flows and keeps you wanting more. It was like greeting old friends and I knew who was who with the addition for me of a new character. This story still follows the stories of Annie and her family. And I’m excited to see what happens next, lol to be continued was traumatic lol lol in a good way. Great books and ones I would recommend …
October 18, 2025
An enthralling and engaging read
I loved this latest book in the Hartford Manor saga. The characters are well crafted, and their interactions are all in character and believable. I enjoyed the way that all the threads from previous books were skillfully interwoven throughout this book. It is an awesome story and immensely captivating.
Marcia is Devon's answer to Catherine Cookson.
I loved this latest book in the Hartford Manor saga. The characters are well crafted, and their interactions are all in character and believable. I enjoyed the way that all the threads from previous books were skillfully interwoven throughout this book. It is an awesome story and immensely captivating.
Marcia is Devon's answer to Catherine Cookson.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews