Nightingale Wood by Stella Gibbons

Life is not quite a fairytale for poor Viola. Left penniless, the young widow is forced to live with her late husband’s family in a joyless old house. There’s Mr Wither, a tyrannical old miser, Mrs Wither, who thinks Viola is just a common shop girl, and two unlovely sisters-in-law, one of whom is in love with the chauffeur. Only the prospect of the charity ball can raise Viola’s spirits – especially as Victor Spring, the local prince charming, will be there. But Victor’s intentions towards our Cinderella are, in short, not quite honourable …