Η Σούζαν δεν είχε προλάβει να εργαστεί πολύ καιρό κοντά στον σερ Άντριαν Στορ, αλλά είχαν δεθεί με βαθιά συμπάθεια. Ωστόσο, όταν ο σερ Άντριαν πεθαίνοντας της άφησε μια μεγάλη περιουσία, η Σούζαν ένιωσε σαν να την είχε χτυπήσει κεραυνός. Ακόμα όμως πιο απίθανος ήταν ο όρος της διαθήκης του που την ανάγκαζε να ζήσει στο Στορ Χωλ, το σπίτι του ανιψιού του σερ Άντριαν, του Τζάστιν Χωλ, ως τη στιγμή που εκείνος θα παντρευόταν. Αλλά ο Τζάστιν ήταν ήδη αρραβωνιασμένος με τη γοητευτική Ρόζαλι Φρήρ και έτσι η ιδιόρρυθμη συμβίωση τος δεν θα κρατούσε για πολύ. Έτσι τουλάχιστον νόμιζαν ...
One of many pseudonyms used by Ida Julia Pollock, née Crowe.
Mrs. Pollack was a British writer of several short-stories and 125 romance novels that were published under her married name and under a number of different pseudonyms: Joan M. Allen; Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Mary Whistler and Marguerite Bell. She has sold millions of copies over her 90-year career. She has been referred to as the "world's oldest novelist" who was still active at 105 and continued writing until her death.
Ida and her husband, Lt Colonel Hugh Alexander Pollock, DSO (1888–1971), a veteran of war and Winston Churchill's collaborator and editor, had a daughter, Rosemary Pollock, who is also a romance writer.
The H was a petty child whose sulky moods and manic happiness actually gave me the fleeting thought that he was bipolar. He proudly acknowledged that he occasionally lashed out cruelly at people, and he was NOT kidding.
Seriously, don't read this because he behaved cruelly and childishly, and he didn't grovel nearly enough, and because this guy has serious psychological problems that will make the h miserable for the rest of their lives together.
For this book being one of the oldest I've read, I have to say I was pretty impressed. Normally the books are really written differently in the 60's and 70's but this one originally came out in '68 and stayed true all the way through the book. It could be compared to modern books that are now out. I quite enjoyed it and getting to know the characters.
Susan was made a beneficiary in her employer's will without her knowledge, which includes a strange addition to the money she inherited. She would be allowed to use the home on his estate any time she wanted until his nephew Justin, who inherited it, married. Before he met her, Justin had unfairly created a version of her in his mind of having manipulated his uncle to get included in his will. At first, he treats her accordingly, not even trying to hide his resentment. Justin is a very prideful man, which is not to his advantage. He decides to get rid of Susan by marrying his society girlfriend, Rosalie. He gets to know Susan during his engagement and his opinion starts to change.
I liked Rosalie's opinionated grandmother.
I'm finding that it is not only Mary Burchell who tended to create characters with grey eyes. Other Harlequin authors seem to favor that color. No idea why.
I love the description of closets in British books from this time. They are called built-in wardrobes, and sometimes deep built-in wardrobes. It seems it is a novelty. I have no idea if this term is still commonly used.