Kissing the Rod: A Novel. (Vol. 2 of 3)

A bright, satirical portrait of Victorian society unfolds as young women navigate the tangled expectations of courtship and family duty. Ellen Streightley worries over a looming wedding, probing the fragile balance between genuine affection and the fashionable performances of love that dominate her circle. Her confidante Hester, ever polite yet yearning for sincerity, watches the drama of status, anxiety, and hidden rivalries take shape amid the glitter of bridal finery.

The novel follows these entwined lives through whispered conversations, uneasy alliances, and the subtle power struggles that emerge when a wealthy match is proposed. As the characters wrestle with personal longing against the weight of propriety, the story examines how pride, fear, and social ambition shape each choice. Listeners will be drawn into the vivid dialogue and keen observations that reveal the bittersweet reality of love constrained by the strict codes of a bygone era.