The last September

The story opens on a bright summer afternoon as a motor car rolls down the tree‑lined avenue toward a stately country house. Long‑awaited guests, the Montmorencys, step out laughing, while the nervous young hostess, Lois, watches from the steps, trying to keep her composure. The grand rooms, with open windows and sweeping lawns, feel both welcoming and overwhelming for the seventeen‑year‑old who has just left school.

Lois feels torn between family expectations and the sudden intimacy of a reunion twelve years in the making. She fumbles with mauve sweet‑peas and half‑finished letters while trying to read the subtle signals of the charming Mr. Montmorency. Whispers from cousins and servants hint at old rivalries and hidden romances, setting the stage for secrets that could upend the household’s delicate balance.