ALATHEA a richly painted historical novel of art, ambition, love and defiance (The Heron Quartet #3)

England, 1660.
Alathea Heron is eleven years old when she discovers the power of her own talent. Gifted, defiant, and bursting with ambition, she dreams of becoming an artist—despite the world’s insistence that painting is no place for a girl. In secret, she draws everything she sees—until a chance encounter with the brilliant and volatile young poet John Wilmot, future Earl of Rochester, changes everything.

Encouraged by her mother, but shadowed by her resentful half-brother, Alathea must navigate family secrets, jealousy, and the expectations of womanhood in Restoration England. Sent to London, she is taken under the wing of celebrated painter Mary Beale, determined to forge her path in a world that sees her as nothing more than a wife in waiting.

A story of resilience, artistry, and the fight to be seen, *Alathea* is the luminous third volume of *The Heron Saga*, and a stirring portrait of a girl who dares to paint her own destiny.

Perfect for fans of Tracy Chevalier, Sarah Dunant, and Elizabeth Fremantle.

Praise for Pamela
‘An outstanding historical novelist, Belle now adds another volume to her impressively researched and crafted series set during the English Civil Wars.’ — Publishers Weekly
‘A lovely warm tapestry of a book, weaving together suspense and drama with a bittersweet love story.’ — Rosemary Sutcliff
‘A gifted storyteller . . . who can conjure up a period of history so that we can smell, hear and see it.’ — Sarah Harrison