A House-Party, Don Gesualdo, and A Rainy June

The story opens on a bright August morning in an elegant English manor called Surrenden Court. Its breakfast room is draped in gilt‑edged leather, oak furnishings, and stained‑glass windows that frame a motto in old French. Beyond the pane, a meticulously designed garden, complete with yew walks, peacocks, and blossoming roses, spreads into sweeping lawns and ancient woods, evoking the grandeur of a bygone era.

Lord Usk, the manor’s fifty‑year‑old master, is a handsome yet irritable noble whose health and temperament are waning. His wife Dorothy, a striking daughter of the Duke of Derry, balances charm with a pragmatic spirit, and together they navigate a marriage that has softened into a courteous companionship after sixteen years. Their bustling household includes three lively sons and two handsome daughters, each adding color to daily life.

As the season turns toward the traditional shooting weeks, Lord Usk is haunted by the recent sale of his cherished Scottish estate to an American investor. The loss fuels his dread of the coming fortnight without sport, setting the stage for a summer filled with uneasy anticipation and the subtle tensions that ripple through the house.