The Bishop's emeralds

Lady Hester Cardew is not the sort of bishop’s wife her diocese expects. Beautiful, energetic, fond of bright colors, horses, bicycles, tennis, and even dancing, she refuses to fade quietly into the background. Her compassion for society’s outcasts and her willingness to forgive scandalous behavior make her beloved by some—and a source of endless gossip to others.

At the Bishop’s Palace, family tensions are becoming harder to ignore. The Bishop’s son, Jack Cardew, is a young barrister with little money and a great deal of love for Mabel Bannister, the striking young guest Lady Hester has invited to stay. His father strongly opposes the match, while Lady Hester seems unable to explain why Mabel has held her attention for so long. Beneath the county’s polite gatherings and sharp-tongued judgments lie old sorrows, hidden motives, and the promise of a mystery that will test the household’s loyalties.