Self Assured

In Self Assured, Matthew and Evelyn have bought their new home - and are worried about the cost of maintaining it and paying the ongoing household bills, including the mortgage, the electricity and heating as well as providing the family with food and clothing. So there's no alternative but to work harder than ever before selling premiums for the Premier Assurance Association. The business is expanding sufficiently to need an office and consulting rooms at the new house.

But the mix of clients never fails to entertain - for instance, why did the Vicar want two bridesmaids to be insured before the wedding celebrations? Dolly and Daisy seemed to be very well-behaved shire horses. And then there was the lady who wanted to provide for her grandchildren's future - no problem with the endowment policies save that the names looked a bit strange: Henry II, George III and even Elizabeth I.

Life is hard but happy and warm-hearted, until a chance encounter threatens to remove Matthew from his livelihood …

Self Assured was originally published in 2006.