Let us Talk of Many Things; of Books and Queens and Pirates, of Mystery and Kings...: Rachel's Random Resources Book Tour of: The Maid's Masquerade by Catherine Tinley

Saturday, 22 November 2025

Rachel's Random Resources Book Tour of: The Maid's Masquerade by Catherine Tinley

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About the Book

The Maid’s Masquerade

An heiress and a maid swap places in brand-new duet The Heiress Switch

Undercover as the Earl’s fiancée

And to settle old scores…

Part of The Heiress Switch: On a transatlantic voyage, English maid Marguerite hatches a plan with an American heiress to temporarily trade places when they arrive in England.

Forced into servitude, this is Marguerite’s chance to re-enter Society, and posing as the betrothed of Benedict, Earl of Linford—the man at fault for her circumstances—is the perfect opportunity for revenge!

But her anger is soon replaced by an unsettling attraction. Still, Benedict caused her to lose everything once and she won’t lose her heart to him now—even when he reveals some unexpected truths…

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/MaidsMasquerade

Author Bio –

Catherine Tinley is an award-winning writer from County Down. She writes witty, heart warming Regency historical romance novels. She has won a coveted Rita® Award, two RoNA Awards, and the HOLT Medallion, and her books have been translated into ten languages. Two of her books have also been published as manga graphic novels.

She also writes saga/women’s historical fiction as Seána Tinley.

After a career encompassing speech & language therapy, Sure Start, and managing a maternity hospital, she now works for a leading charity. She lives in County Down with her husband, children, cats, and dog, and can be reached via her website or on socials.

Social Media Links – https://linktr.ee/CTinley

read an excerpt

The Maid’s Masquerade by Catherine Tinley

Kent, July 1818

[Marguerite, a servant, is pretending to be Miss Van Bergen, an American heiress, who is engaged to Lord Linford via an arranged marriage. Lord Linford is the enemy of Marguerite’s family, and ruined her father.]

Linford House was a large, solid house in warm brick, built over three storeys, plus attics and cellars. As the carriage drew up outside the front door, a pang of…something…went through Marguerite. Anger? Envy? Resentment, perhaps? Linford had inherited old wealth and standing, which contrasted sharply with Papa’s little cottage and modest income, and it was a reminder of the way Linford had coldly ignored him following the failure of their shared enterprise.

True, Linford had contracted a betrothal with a wealthy heiress he had never met, which meant that his financial difficulties must be pressing. Looking at the enormous house, set in miles of parkland and surrounded by well-tended gardens, Marguerite did not doubt his need for resources. The upkeep of a house such as this must be enormous. Plus, there was the townhouse, as well as personal expenses for himself, his sister and their aunt. Lady Eleanor had spoken of her own widow’s income, but she had been acting as Linford’s hostess for a number of years.

The front door opened and Linford emerged to greet them. His manner was jovial, indicating he was determined to be polite. Good, for Marguerite was tired of fighting. What was done was done. Still, her foolish heart insisted on skipping wildly as he bent over her gloved hand.

He led them inside while, with a fair amount of detail, Lady Eleanor explained the trouble they’d had getting across Westminster Bridge, since the miasma from the Thames had been almost overpowering. The ladies had used scented handkerchiefs against their noses, and Marguerite had held her breath as long as she could. It had been truly foul, and she was secretly glad to have escaped to the fresh and nourishing air of the countryside.

The familiar scent of wood polish assailed Marguerite’s nostrils as she stepped inside the wide hallway. How well she knew how much work it took to clean and maintain furniture and floors, curtains and carpets! No doubt the staff had been up since dawn, preparing for the arrival of my lord’s family—and his additional guest.

She started, then recovered. The staff was formally lined up—the housekeeper and female servants to the left, the butler and footmen to the right. Of course! Miss Van Bergen, as Linford’s betrothed, was to be their new mistress. Lady Eleanor would have instructed the housekeeper to arrange this formal greeting. No doubt Marguerite would be expected to meet with the housekeeper too, in preparation for the day she would take over the running of the house. Except she was not the real Miss Van Bergen, and that role would never be hers.

Swallowing, she managed to greet Mrs Murdock, the housekeeper, with what she hoped was a fair degree of composure.

A moment later, that composure left her abruptly. As her eye ran along the line of maidservants, her jaw dropped. There, fourth in the line, was Martha—her former friend who knew her only as a servant.