White Motley: A Novel

The story opens in the secluded estate of Holmswell, a Tudor‑style house perched beside the road to Norwich. Its owner, Sir Luton Delayne, is a flamboyant, red‑haired baronet whose temper and brutish ways have made him both feared and ridiculed by the nearby village. By his side lives the gentle Lady Delayne, a woman whose charm has won the affection of locals despite her husband's reputation.

Rumors swirl when the couple’s fortunes turn sour: Sir Luton suffers a crushing loss on the racecourse and in risky American securities, while Lady Delayne vanishes without a trace. The villagers whisper about secret debts, shady bookmakers, and a sudden, baffling disappearance that leaves the once‑proud household in ruin. As the narrative unfolds, listeners are drawn into a web of intrigue, social rivalry, and the quiet desperation of a community trying to understand what truly happened.