Jeanne of the Marshes

In a secluded manor perched above misty marshes, a weary princess named Ena reluctantly receives an urgent visit from Nigel Forrest, a sharp‑tongued English gentleman tied to her by a longstanding, cryptic agreement. Their conversation, set against the faint scent of incense and the soft rustle of curtains, reveals a world of aristocratic boredom, silent rivalries, and a strange sense that something unseen is rotting the genteel routines of their social circle. As the princess masks her headache with powder and poised composure, the pair grapple with subtle betrayals that hint at darker currents beneath their polished façades.

Through witty, understated dialogue, the novel explores how etiquette can both conceal and magnify personal anxieties, while the marshland setting mirrors the murky undercurrents of truth and deception. Readers are drawn into a delicate dance of obligation and desire, watching Ena navigate the expectations of her status and the unsettling feelings that nag at her guest. The opening promises a blend of elegant social satire and a slowly unfurling mystery that will keep listeners turning the page.