
Set in the grand yet modernized halls of Llancader Castle, the story follows the three St. Austell daughters as they navigate the expectations of aristocratic life. Their mother, determined to compensate for the lack of a male heir, has given them an education meant for boys, fostering a curious blend of confidence and awkwardness that colors every conversation in the polished rooms overlooking the River Wye.
When the eldest sister, Elizabeth, and the youngest, Catherine, turn their attention to the handsome Rees Pennant, gossip and rivalry begin to stir beneath the castle’s genteel surface. Their whispered speculations reveal a longing for love and status that clashes with their father’s practical ambitions and the austere guidance of their unconventional duenna. As summer heat settles over the estate, the sisters’ playful banter hints at deeper entanglements that could reshape their futures and test the fragile balance between duty and desire.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (378K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
New York: Frank F. Lovell, & Company, 1889.
Credits
an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer
Release date
2023-11-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1857–1929
A prolific Victorian novelist with a flair for mystery, romance, and sensation, she wrote popular fiction that kept late-19th-century readers turning pages. Her books often mix suspense with lively social detail, making them an inviting doorway into the world of popular British storytelling.
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