After learning of her mother's death, Anna receives a letter from her father. He is grateful that Anna has Aunt Charlotte to take care of her because he is leaving India soon for other parts of the world that are having problems. Anna worries she will always be at Queen's House, a prospect that isn't pleasing. She grieves for her mother, and later for her father who also dies. Then one day Aunt Charlotte brings her to Castle Crediton and Anna meets Redvers Stretton. She is taken with him immediately. Though he is 7 years older than she is, she can't get him off of her mind. When she is sixteen, she finds out that he is Sir Edward's illegitimate son. Sir Edward's wife and maid both had his sons days apart and they were raised together at the castle, though his legitimate son, Rex, is the true heir. The years pass quickly and Aunt Charlotte makes Anna quit school. Instead she helps her aunt with her antique business. When Anna is twenty-one, Aunt Charlotte develops rheumatism. She depends on Anna more and more and even ends a relationship Anna has developed with a young art dealer. She is afraid Anna will marry and leave her. Anna feels more trapped than ever. Then one day when Anna is in the shop, Redvers Stretton comes in. Anna is still obsessed with him and is light hearted and happy in his presence. A couple of days later Aunt Charlotte goes to a sale even though she isn't physically strong enough. Redvers visits and ends up staying for dinner. They are in her bedroom looking at a figurehead of his ship when Anna hears her aunt arrive home. She is panic stricken. Though they try to convince her aunt he is interested in antiques, her aunt is livid. That night Aunt Charlotte comes to Anna's room and accuses her of immoral behavior. After an ugly scene, Aunt Charlotte falls down the stairs on her way back to her room. She is now confined to bed most of the time and very ill tempered. It is at this time that Anna finds out that Redvers is married and was married on the occasion he visited. What do you think of Redvers at this point? I wasn't sure if he was just flirting with Anna or was genuinely interested in her. After finding out he was married, my first thought was he was more than a little bit like his father. Anna's obsession with his family began her first day in England after hearing about them. His background added to his mystique along with the castle he lived in. Victoria Holt has set up the ambiance that gothics are known for. How is this book comparing to other Victoria Holt books you have read? I know it's still early in the book and you may not have had time to form an opinion yet. Happy Reading!
Pam from Texas reading The Secret Woman and Crimson City So many books and emails So many movies and television channels So many songs to download and CDs to burn So little time [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> <font face=arial size=-1><a href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12haunshj/M=362335.6886444.7839734.2575449/D=groups/S=1705019888:TM/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1123229248/A=2894362/R=0/SIG=138c78jl6/*http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/arts_culture/?source=YAHOO&cmpgn=GRP&RTP=http://groups.yahoo.com/";>What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater?Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good</a>.</font> --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *No Group-Books Currently* Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ArmchairReaders2/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
