Having the Decorators in

After months of Having the Builders In, Dame Constance's castle, Vine Regis, is her own again. Finally she can begin decorating her new extension. Or so she thinks...

Unfortunately it's not just her Italian decorator's choice of colours that are revolting - the townsfolk are at it too. Murderous rebels are rumoured to be on the rampage. But whilst Dame Constance takes the news in her stride her neighbours are running for cover at Vine Regis! As meddlesome merchants, pesky pilgrims and rowdy relatives descend, Constance's dreams of interior design disappear.

This simply won't do; Dame Constance should be picking out patterns, not picking up after uninvited guests. But as Lady of the Castle she must do her duty. Unless, of course, she can devise a way to get rid of them...

Having the Decorators In is deliciously delightful and infinitely more entertaining than watching paint dry.

Born and brought up in Scotland, Reay Tannahill would have liked to have gone either to art or drama school but fell victim to the traditional Scottish passion for formal education and found herself instead at the University of Glasgow, from where she emerged with an MA in history and a postgraduate certificate in social sciences. Until her death in 2007 she lived in London.

After a varied career - as a probation officer, advertising copy-writer, newspaper reporter, historical researcher and graphic designer - she was asked by the Folio Society to write a short illustrated study of Regency England. This allowed her to combine her interests in art and history and was followed by PARIS IN THE REVOLUTION, THE FINE ART OF FOOD, FOOD IN HISTORY and SEX IN HISTORY. Having spent twelve years researching and writing these last two books (translated into eleven languages), Reay Tannahill felt that a change was called for and embarked on her first historical novel, A DARK AND DISTANT SHORE, which was an instant bestseller. Her following historical novels were all critically acclaimed and included PASSING GLORY, winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year Award.