In the High Valley

The story opens on a bright May morning at Copplestone Grange, an ancient Devon manor draped in thick ivy and blooming gardens. The house, with its sturdy brickwork and centuries‑old chimneys, watches over orchards, pasture, and a narrow walled garden ablaze with roses, sweet peas and lilac‑scented vines. This vivid countryside backdrop sets a tone of quiet beauty tinged with the weight of history, hinting at the lives once lived within its walls.

At the front