The School Queens

Cicely and Merry Cardew are twin sisters living in the opulent world of Meredith Manor, where every comfort is provided and every day is overseen by devoted governesses. Their parents have shielded them from hardship, surrounding them with fine clothes, ponies, and a genteel village that mirrors their own prosperity. Though bright and amiable, the girls have never known anything beyond the well‑tended gardens and the predictable rhythm of home education, leaving them curious yet unaware of life’s harsher realities.

When the lively Tristram family moves into the nearby rector’s house, the twins encounter a very different kind of upbringing. Molly, the older Tristram sister, has been schooled abroad and carries a sharp, world‑worn perspective that both fascinates and unsettles the Cardews. Her candid remarks about their sheltered existence hint at an impending clash of values, promising the twins a glimpse of a world beyond the walls of Meredith Manor.