John Hay Beith was a Scottish schoolmaster, soldier, playwright, and novelist.
He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh and St. Johns College, Cambridge. He was a second-lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was sent to France in April 1915 where he was awarded the Military Cross. He was later Director of Public Relations at the War Office (1938 - 1941).
As "Ian Hay", he was also a novelist and playwright.
Robert Chalmers Fordyce is the son of a Scottish farmer who becomes the secretary to Adrian Inglethwaite, a minor Conservative minister. As his new employer remarks of his unlikely new underling, he's "rather Scotch."
Of course he proves to have the right stuff of the title, so he soon begins to prove his worth, helping to write speeches, prepare briefs and make a positive impact on the election trail.
More importantly, he helps at home by entertaining the Ingletwaite's young daughter, Phyllis. The domestic cosiness is further enhanced by identical twin sisters-in-law called Dilly and Dolly, who only Robert is able to tell apart.
A gentle, heartwarming mixture of drollery and kindness.