Cover of His Official Fiancée

His Official Fiancée

  • Free to read
  • 5 hours to read
  • 30 chapters
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"His Official Fiancée" by Berta Ruck is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows Monica Trant, a typist caught in a precarious position in London, as she navigates the complexities of an unusual proposition from her employer, Mr. Waters. Set against a backdrop of early 20th-century societal expectations and gender roles, the narrative explores themes of independence, financial necessity, and the art of pretense. The opening of the book introduces Monica, who is called to the office of her boss, Mr. Waters, after fear of being fired looms over her. Instead of dismissal, she is surprised to find that he proposes an unconventional arrangement wherein she would pose as his fiancée for a year in exchange for financial support. This unexpected proposal stems from a need for appearances rather than genuine affection, leading Monica to grapple with the implications of portraying a romantic relationship that she never sought. As she responds to his shocking offer, the reader is drawn into a world that contrasts her mundane office life with the complexities of personal identities and societal roles.

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  • Love stories
  • Deception
  • England · Social life and customs · 20th century
  • Fiancées

Read the opening

Chapter I

THE SUMMONS

“‘A girl without a sweetheart,’ girls—(I was readin’ something about it this very morning ’s I was coming along in the Toob),” chattered little Miss Holt over her work. “A girl without a sweetheart is like a ship at sea, without knowing what port she’s to put in at——”

“Accounts for the way a lot of ’em seem to pick their sweethearts on the principle ‘Any port in a storm!’” said Miss Robinson, with her little sniff.

“Well! Seems to me there’s a good deal in the idea that a poor husband is better than none,” came philosophically from Miss Holt, whose back is always curved like a banana over her typing-table, and who “smarms” her dull brown hair down under a hair-net until her head looks like a chocolate. “After all, my dear, if you’re married, you’re married; and nobody can say you aren’t. But if you aren’t married, you aren’t. And nobody can say you are!”.

“How true,” said Miss Robinson dreamily. “Got that, Miss Trant?”

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Contents

Show all 30 chapters
  1. Front Matter
  2. Chapter I
  3. Chapter II
  4. Chapter III: Thinking It Over — —
  5. Chapter IV
  6. Chapter V
  7. Chapter VI
  8. Chapter VII
  9. Chapter VIII
  10. Chapter IX
  11. Chapter X: “His” Mother’s Invitation
  12. Chapter XI: Meeting “His” People
  13. Chapter XII
  14. Chapter XIII: The First TÊTe-À-TÊTe
  15. Chapter XIV
  16. Chapter XV: “The Light of Other Days”
  17. Chapter XVI
  18. Chapter XVII
  19. Chapter XVIII
  20. Chapter XIX
  21. Chapter XX
  22. Chapter XXI
  23. Chapter XXII
  24. Chapter XXIII: “Many Waters — — ”
  25. Chapter XXIV
  26. Chapter XXV
  27. Chapter XXVI: “All Change Here”
  28. Chapter XXVII
  29. Chapter XXVIII
  30. Postscript

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About this edition

This free edition of His Official Fiancée by Berta Ruck comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #63865, released 2020-11-23. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Romance, Novels, British Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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