When I was writing my latest novel, Death at the Village Garden Party, my starting point was to wonder what would happen when industrial magnate Robert Praed acquires the local stately home of Bunbury House.
In the three earlier books in my Cotswold Curiosity Shop series, it’s clear that one of his sidelines is restoring and repurposing old buildings is one of his sidelines. It’s in keeping with his benevolent character to cherish his local heritage. These projects also gives him a good excuse to connect with Alice Carroll, whose shop sells cottage-core items with which he might furnish them.