The garden of DELIGHTS
THE STORY SO FAR: Effie, a housemaid in a Scottish country house, has been indulging her passion for flowers ever since the laird’s daughter, Miss Constance, decided to create a Japanese garden in the grounds. Effie has been working alongside her new friend Misuki, who was invited from Japan to help with the project. As the friendship has grown, so has Misuki’s secret relationship with Effie’s brother Hamish, a groom on the estate. But clouds are gathering. Misuki and her mother Akari are to leave Scotland for good after the grand opening of the garden. Before Misuki’s father died, he chose a husband for Misuki, a much older man, and she’ll be married on her return to Japan. Effie suspects Misuki has made peace with her fate and has broken off her love affair with Hamish. So Effie is astonished when Miss Constance arrives at the cottage she shares with her family and says Misuki is missing.
The steam from the porridge pot had misted up the windows of the little kitchen and filled the room with a warm, comforting smell. Effie pulled her shawl tight around her shoulders and looked at Miss Constance, as her mother fussed around their important guest.
‘Missing? Misuki?’ Effie said, trying to untangle the scramble of thoughts flying around inside her head.
Where could her friend have gone?
‘Yes, lass,’ replied Miss Constance, sitting down at the
