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A Sunset Touch
Danger lurked somewhere in the corners of the manor house - and Elizabeth wasn't at all sure whom she could trust....
When Dr Elizabeth Manners agreed to look after little Joey Randolph she did so because she had become fond of the lonely, delicate child. She had no idea that the job she'd taken on to fill in time would lead her into a highly dangerous situation. It was a strange household in which she found herself. Joey's father, Jason Randolph, was a wealthy American business executive, pleasant enough but obviously living under a great strain. And Kelly, his personal assistant, seemed at first to resent Elizabeth's presence. It was only when sinister events began to take place at Ryecroft Manor that she was able to appreciate Kelly's true worth...
When Dr Elizabeth Manners agreed to look after little Joey Randolph she did so because she had become fond of the lonely, delicate child. She had no idea that the job she'd taken on to fill in time would lead her into a highly dangerous situation. It was a strange household in which she found herself. Joey's father, Jason Randolph, was a wealthy American business executive, pleasant enough but obviously living under a great strain. And Kelly, his personal assistant, seemed at first to resent Elizabeth's presence. It was only when sinister events began to take place at Ryecroft Manor that she was able to appreciate Kelly's true worth...
400 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1972
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Alex Stuart
45 books4 followersViolet Vivian Finlay was born on 2 January 1914 in Berkshire, England, UK, the daughter of Alice Kathleen (née Norton) and Sir Campbell Kirkman Finlay. Her father was the owner and director of Burmah Oil Company Ltd., whose Scottish family also owned James Finlay and Company Ltd. The majority of her childhood and youth was spent in Rangoon, Burma (now also known as Myanmar), where her father worked. During her life, she frequently journeyed between India, Singapore, Java and Sumatra.
Although Vivian is well-known by the surname of Stuart, she married four times during her lifetime, and had five children: Gillian Rushton (née Porch), Kim Santow, Jennifer Gooch (née Stuart), and twins Vary and Valerie Stuart.
Following the dissolution of her first marriage, she studied for a time Law in London in the mid 1930s, before decided studied Medicine at the University of London. Later she spent time in Hungary in the capacity of private tutor in English, while she obtained a pathologist qualification at the University of Budapest in 1938. In 1939, she emigrated to Australia with her second husband, a Hungarian Doctor Geza Santow with whom she worked. In 1942, she obtained a diploma in industrial chemistry and laboratory technique at Technical Institute of Newcastle. Having earned an ambulance driver's certificate, she joined the Australian Forces at the Women's Auxiliary Service during World War II. She was attached to the IVth Army, and raised to the rank of sergeant, she was posted to British XIV Army in Rangoon, Burma in October 1945, and was then transferred to Sumatra in December. After the WWII, she returned to England. On 24 October 1958, she married her fourth and last husband, Cyril William Mann, a bank manager.
She was a prolific writer from 1953 to 1986 under diferent pseudonyms: Vivian Stuart, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, V. A. Stuart, William Stuart Long and Robyn Stuart. Many of her novels were protagonized by doctors or nurses, and set in Asia, Australia or other places she had visited. Her romance novel, Gay Cavalier published in 1955 as Alex Stuart got her into trouble with her Mills & Boon editors when she featured a secondary story line featuring a Catholic male and Protestant female who chose to marry. This so-called "mixed marriage" touched nerves in the United Kingdom.
In 1960, she was a founder of the Romantic Novelists' Association, along with Denise Robins, Barbara Cartland, and others; she was elected the first Chairman (1961-1963). In 1970, she became the first woman to chair Swanwick Writers' Summer School.
Violet Vivian Finlay Porch Santow Stuart Mann passed away on August 1986 in Yorkshire, at age 72. She continued writing until her death.
Although Vivian is well-known by the surname of Stuart, she married four times during her lifetime, and had five children: Gillian Rushton (née Porch), Kim Santow, Jennifer Gooch (née Stuart), and twins Vary and Valerie Stuart.
Following the dissolution of her first marriage, she studied for a time Law in London in the mid 1930s, before decided studied Medicine at the University of London. Later she spent time in Hungary in the capacity of private tutor in English, while she obtained a pathologist qualification at the University of Budapest in 1938. In 1939, she emigrated to Australia with her second husband, a Hungarian Doctor Geza Santow with whom she worked. In 1942, she obtained a diploma in industrial chemistry and laboratory technique at Technical Institute of Newcastle. Having earned an ambulance driver's certificate, she joined the Australian Forces at the Women's Auxiliary Service during World War II. She was attached to the IVth Army, and raised to the rank of sergeant, she was posted to British XIV Army in Rangoon, Burma in October 1945, and was then transferred to Sumatra in December. After the WWII, she returned to England. On 24 October 1958, she married her fourth and last husband, Cyril William Mann, a bank manager.
She was a prolific writer from 1953 to 1986 under diferent pseudonyms: Vivian Stuart, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, V. A. Stuart, William Stuart Long and Robyn Stuart. Many of her novels were protagonized by doctors or nurses, and set in Asia, Australia or other places she had visited. Her romance novel, Gay Cavalier published in 1955 as Alex Stuart got her into trouble with her Mills & Boon editors when she featured a secondary story line featuring a Catholic male and Protestant female who chose to marry. This so-called "mixed marriage" touched nerves in the United Kingdom.
In 1960, she was a founder of the Romantic Novelists' Association, along with Denise Robins, Barbara Cartland, and others; she was elected the first Chairman (1961-1963). In 1970, she became the first woman to chair Swanwick Writers' Summer School.
Violet Vivian Finlay Porch Santow Stuart Mann passed away on August 1986 in Yorkshire, at age 72. She continued writing until her death.
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June 14, 2020
'A Sunset Touch' is yet another example of the fact that Alex Stuart really could write! She numbers among a handful of vintage M&B writers, who were successful without any 'magic' required from Alan Boon and his redoubtable editorial department.
The novel opens with its heroine, Dr. Elizabeth Manners, finishing up a locum position in the town of Longmead, Sussex. Among the patients she's covered during the absence of local GP, is a small American child, Joey Randolph, who lives at Ryecroft Manor. Motherless Joey is asthmatic and his attacks seem to be brought on by stress, something Elizabeth believes is acerbated by his lack of companionship. His businessman father travels extensively so that, outside school hours, six-year old Joey spends all his time with the servants. The staff employed at Ryecroft Manor are quite elderly, with the exception of the chauffeur/personal assistant, Kelly, who is 'a tall dark-haired American of Irish extraction, possessed of more than ordinary good looks, a magnificent physique and a pair of curiously cold blue eyes which seemed...a contradiction'.
Elizabeth doesn't view Kelly as an ideal companion for Joey, finding him too 'glib and smooth in manner'. She instinctively distrusts the man, suspecting he wants to achieve an ascendancy over the sick child in order to make himself indispensable to wealthy Jason Randolph. For his part, Kelly isn't shy in expressing his own view that Dr. Manners indulges in 'crackpot theories' and carries on as though the 'kid were a cripple'. This tension means that upfront there's hostility between the protagonists and, refreshingly, it's not the typical M&B variety, e.g. 'you ignored me in the corridor' or 'you flirted with my best friend'. In any case, Elizabeth expects to shortly be free of Kelly's antagonisms - she's planning a long visit to her family home in Yorkshire (and local locum work) while waiting to take up further voluntary work in India. Notably, the heroine seeks a return to emergency relief work not only for altruistic reasons, but also due to her 'crush' on the Doctor running the operation in West Bengal.
Little Joey has, however, become even more attached to Elizabeth than she'd believed, and is so upset she's leaving that he works himself up into a state. As a consequence, on her final night on duty in Longmead, Elizabeth finds herself summoned by Jason Randolph. Kelly arrives to collect her in the gleaming Cadillac and, on their way to Ryecroft Manor, the pair fall to arguing about Joey. He's suffered an asthma attack earlier that day during a riding lesson and Elizabeth is insistent the underlying fear that prompts the child's attacks needs to be understood and removed, while Kelly counters this by telling her that; 'Fear's a thing you can't cure...I've been so scared my guts have turned to water and not just for a few minutes, not even for a few days, but for weeks on end'. To explain himself, and also as he believes he'll not see Elizabeth again, Kelly goes on to briefly describe his recent experience in Vietnam. This is the first real insight we get into his character and it also opens up Elizabeth's eyes - especially when she learns he was a victim of attempted fragging - the murder of officers and sergeants by their own troops.
At Ryecroft Manor, Jason Randolph tells a surprised Elizabeth that he wants to employ her to look after his son for the three months (over the school summer holidays) until she leaves for India. Joey's father tells Elizabeth this is the chance to give him the 'young companionship' she's previously insisted the child needs. Jason emphasises that he'll be in West Germany much of the time, meaning she will have a 'completely free' hand in terms of Joey's routine. The only stipulation, he makes is that anytime that Elizabeth ventures from Ryecroft Manor with Joey they must be accompanied by Kelly. While nervous of what Kelly will say about the proposed arrangement, Elizabeth is keen to accept the position, both because she's fond of Joey and also as it's an opportunity to build up her strength for the demanding volunteer work ahead of her.
Driving Elizabeth back to Longmead after her interview, Kelly guesses half-jokingly that the reason for her preoccupation is that Jason Randolph had proposed marriage to her. When he learns the truth, however, Kelly makes his feelings known quite explosively- 'Oh, for God's sake! You're a qualified doctor and you're going to spend all your time taking care of one little kid who isn't even sick? You're going to act as glorified nursemaid to Jason Randolph's son?' Elizabeth is hurt by his open hostility and falls back into suspecting that he wants more leverage over Joey. But quite shortly it becomes evident there's something more tangible beneath Kelly's aversion to her joining the Randolph household...
Enter the Mystery Element: After becoming suspicious of Kelly's over protectiveness during an excursion with Joey to a safari park, Elizabeth interrogates him. Kelly admits the reason he's not welcomed her acting as Joey's 'nursemaid' is that the child is the subject of kidnap threats - large ransom amounts are being extorted from Jason Randolph. Apparently, when the family were living in America, the FBI had investigated the letters and consequently Kelly was hired to act as Joey's bodyguard. Despite relocating to England, the threats from an unknown party or parties, continue and have becoming more troubling in their content. Having made this disclosure to Elizabeth, Kelly later presses Jason Randolph to offer her the chance to renege on the job. While unsettled by the threats being made to Joey, Elizabeth feels bound to the child and agrees to take up the post upon returning from her visit to Yorkshire.
Arriving a week later at Longmead Station, Elizabeth is collected by Kelly who immediately berates her for befriending a young American clergy-man on the train down from London. He's particularly tense because of a Glastonbury style week-long festival being held for 'hippies' at nearby Selby Hall. Kelly views the event as a heightened security risk, and it turns out that he's right to be concerned - the protagonists subsequently find themselves caught up in events including; a car bomb, a suicide, a thwarted attempt to deliver ransom money in Dusseldorf and (not one, but) two kidnappings...
This is all high octane stuff, especially for vintage M&B - usually 'danger elements in a story-line invariably have a 'campy' feel (think Pamela Kent). There's nothing unrealistic, however, about the events described in 'A Sunset Touch' which, along with the emotional depth invested in the main characters, make it a pretty powerful story. The mystery sub-plot is very well done - I didn't twig as to the identity of the criminal/s until very close to the end of the book - and a neat bit of uncertainty is inserted in the earlier part of the story too as to who will be the hero - with Jason Randall and the local Detective Inspector emerging at various times as possible candidates .
I thoroughly enjoyed 'A Sunset Touch' and, surprisingly for a M&B novel, expect to re-read the book a few times (an honour more usually reserved, in the romance genre, for Georgette Heyer or Lucilla Andrews) - I'm rating it four-and-a half vintage romance stars - and highly recommend!
The novel opens with its heroine, Dr. Elizabeth Manners, finishing up a locum position in the town of Longmead, Sussex. Among the patients she's covered during the absence of local GP, is a small American child, Joey Randolph, who lives at Ryecroft Manor. Motherless Joey is asthmatic and his attacks seem to be brought on by stress, something Elizabeth believes is acerbated by his lack of companionship. His businessman father travels extensively so that, outside school hours, six-year old Joey spends all his time with the servants. The staff employed at Ryecroft Manor are quite elderly, with the exception of the chauffeur/personal assistant, Kelly, who is 'a tall dark-haired American of Irish extraction, possessed of more than ordinary good looks, a magnificent physique and a pair of curiously cold blue eyes which seemed...a contradiction'.
Elizabeth doesn't view Kelly as an ideal companion for Joey, finding him too 'glib and smooth in manner'. She instinctively distrusts the man, suspecting he wants to achieve an ascendancy over the sick child in order to make himself indispensable to wealthy Jason Randolph. For his part, Kelly isn't shy in expressing his own view that Dr. Manners indulges in 'crackpot theories' and carries on as though the 'kid were a cripple'. This tension means that upfront there's hostility between the protagonists and, refreshingly, it's not the typical M&B variety, e.g. 'you ignored me in the corridor' or 'you flirted with my best friend'. In any case, Elizabeth expects to shortly be free of Kelly's antagonisms - she's planning a long visit to her family home in Yorkshire (and local locum work) while waiting to take up further voluntary work in India. Notably, the heroine seeks a return to emergency relief work not only for altruistic reasons, but also due to her 'crush' on the Doctor running the operation in West Bengal.
Little Joey has, however, become even more attached to Elizabeth than she'd believed, and is so upset she's leaving that he works himself up into a state. As a consequence, on her final night on duty in Longmead, Elizabeth finds herself summoned by Jason Randolph. Kelly arrives to collect her in the gleaming Cadillac and, on their way to Ryecroft Manor, the pair fall to arguing about Joey. He's suffered an asthma attack earlier that day during a riding lesson and Elizabeth is insistent the underlying fear that prompts the child's attacks needs to be understood and removed, while Kelly counters this by telling her that; 'Fear's a thing you can't cure...I've been so scared my guts have turned to water and not just for a few minutes, not even for a few days, but for weeks on end'. To explain himself, and also as he believes he'll not see Elizabeth again, Kelly goes on to briefly describe his recent experience in Vietnam. This is the first real insight we get into his character and it also opens up Elizabeth's eyes - especially when she learns he was a victim of attempted fragging - the murder of officers and sergeants by their own troops.
At Ryecroft Manor, Jason Randolph tells a surprised Elizabeth that he wants to employ her to look after his son for the three months (over the school summer holidays) until she leaves for India. Joey's father tells Elizabeth this is the chance to give him the 'young companionship' she's previously insisted the child needs. Jason emphasises that he'll be in West Germany much of the time, meaning she will have a 'completely free' hand in terms of Joey's routine. The only stipulation, he makes is that anytime that Elizabeth ventures from Ryecroft Manor with Joey they must be accompanied by Kelly. While nervous of what Kelly will say about the proposed arrangement, Elizabeth is keen to accept the position, both because she's fond of Joey and also as it's an opportunity to build up her strength for the demanding volunteer work ahead of her.
Driving Elizabeth back to Longmead after her interview, Kelly guesses half-jokingly that the reason for her preoccupation is that Jason Randolph had proposed marriage to her. When he learns the truth, however, Kelly makes his feelings known quite explosively- 'Oh, for God's sake! You're a qualified doctor and you're going to spend all your time taking care of one little kid who isn't even sick? You're going to act as glorified nursemaid to Jason Randolph's son?' Elizabeth is hurt by his open hostility and falls back into suspecting that he wants more leverage over Joey. But quite shortly it becomes evident there's something more tangible beneath Kelly's aversion to her joining the Randolph household...
Enter the Mystery Element: After becoming suspicious of Kelly's over protectiveness during an excursion with Joey to a safari park, Elizabeth interrogates him. Kelly admits the reason he's not welcomed her acting as Joey's 'nursemaid' is that the child is the subject of kidnap threats - large ransom amounts are being extorted from Jason Randolph. Apparently, when the family were living in America, the FBI had investigated the letters and consequently Kelly was hired to act as Joey's bodyguard. Despite relocating to England, the threats from an unknown party or parties, continue and have becoming more troubling in their content. Having made this disclosure to Elizabeth, Kelly later presses Jason Randolph to offer her the chance to renege on the job. While unsettled by the threats being made to Joey, Elizabeth feels bound to the child and agrees to take up the post upon returning from her visit to Yorkshire.
Arriving a week later at Longmead Station, Elizabeth is collected by Kelly who immediately berates her for befriending a young American clergy-man on the train down from London. He's particularly tense because of a Glastonbury style week-long festival being held for 'hippies' at nearby Selby Hall. Kelly views the event as a heightened security risk, and it turns out that he's right to be concerned - the protagonists subsequently find themselves caught up in events including; a car bomb, a suicide, a thwarted attempt to deliver ransom money in Dusseldorf and (not one, but) two kidnappings...
This is all high octane stuff, especially for vintage M&B - usually 'danger elements in a story-line invariably have a 'campy' feel (think Pamela Kent). There's nothing unrealistic, however, about the events described in 'A Sunset Touch' which, along with the emotional depth invested in the main characters, make it a pretty powerful story. The mystery sub-plot is very well done - I didn't twig as to the identity of the criminal/s until very close to the end of the book - and a neat bit of uncertainty is inserted in the earlier part of the story too as to who will be the hero - with Jason Randall and the local Detective Inspector emerging at various times as possible candidates .
I thoroughly enjoyed 'A Sunset Touch' and, surprisingly for a M&B novel, expect to re-read the book a few times (an honour more usually reserved, in the romance genre, for Georgette Heyer or Lucilla Andrews) - I'm rating it four-and-a half vintage romance stars - and highly recommend!
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