Tomina in retreat

Tomina is a bright‑eyed London debutante whose life has been a parade of parties, foreign trips, and endless expectations. When a seasoned physician finally tells her that her relentless pace is ruining her health, she refuses the conventional rest cure and asks for something far more radical—a hidden refuge where she can disappear for months. The promise of a quiet corner, free from motorcars and society’s chatter, sends her hurrying back to the city to arrange a secret withdrawal.

Back in her stepmother’s opulent Park Lane residence, Tomina retreats to a firelit room and reviews the tangled history that led her from a carefree childhood with her twin brother to the relentless demands of high society. As she sketches the outlines of a secluded hideaway, the narrative hints at unexpected visitors, stubborn obligations, and the fragile balance between escape and responsibility. Listeners will follow her first attempts to carve out a sanctuary and the subtle forces that begin to test her resolve.