Christopher Hibbault, Roadmaker

A dusty milestone sixty-three miles from London marks the place where young Christopher waits for a promised change of fortune. Living at the Whitmansworth workhouse, he associates the distant city with freedom, despite memories of hunger and his mother's fears. Then a gentleman stops his carriage, addresses the boy by his full name, and asks to see where he lives. The encounter gives this English novel an opening shaped by poverty, curiosity, and the possibility of a different life.

Later, Christopher faces intrusive questions from Peter Masters about his connection with the Aston family. A conversation during a motorcar drive turns his private history into a source of painful doubt. Marguerite Bryant brings questions of parentage and belonging into scenes of country roads, fine horses, and increasing speed. Readers interested in family relationships and social position will find a story attentive to the unease that can accompany affection and opportunity.