Etheldreda the Ready: A School Story

A lively winter holiday turns uneasy for the Saxon family when a sudden, inexplicable gloom settles over their home. The children—Rowena, Hereward, Gurth, Etheldreda, and the twin pair Harold and Maud—each bring their distinct personalities to the mix, from Rowena’s shy elegance to Maud’s startling flashes of wit. As the adults retreat to a remote country house, the youngsters are left to wonder why the atmosphere has become so heavy.

When a terse note orders them to leave for “The Meads,” Miss Bruce, the governess, and Nannie, the former nurse, scramble to arrange a train departure. The children’s attempts to assert a little independence—blocking a carriage door and teasing their governess—reveal both their camaraderie and the undercurrent of anxiety. Listeners are drawn into the charming yet tense world of an English family at the turn of the year, eager to discover what lies behind the mysterious departure.