THE STORY SO FAR
Violet has landed her dream job in marketing at stately home Meldrake House. While the owner Lord Reggie backs her progressive ideas, his young, second wife Cynthia is hostile. Violet persuades famous artist Daryl Hinds to show his latest exhibition at the house. However, on the eve of the exhibition’s opening, Cynthia instructs the workmen to hang one of the most important paintings upside down. Is Cynthia out to sabotage Violet’s plans? Although disaster is averted, Violet is furious. But she must bite her tongue, having already been indiscreet to Reggie’s son and heir, Ian, calling his stepmother ‘Madame Cyn’. Ian, a horticulturist, wants to restore the gardens of Meldrake House to their former glory. Violet is attracted to him but, despite their growing bond, Ian seems lukewarm about her ‘modernising’ role. Before she can ask him more, she gets a curt summons from Cynthia to come to her private sitting room – immediately.
Violet knocked on the sitting room door, then opened it in response to an imperious ‘Enter!’
Cynthia, perched on a velvet sofa, glanced meaningfully at her watch.
‘I came as quickly as I could, Your Ladyship,’ mumbled Violet.
Tensed for a waspish retort, she instead heard the surprising words, ‘Lord Meldrake and I wanted to congratulate you properly on the Hinds show.’
‘Thank you.’
‘That being the case, we’d like your input on a new idea.’
‘Of course.’
Cynthia smiled. ‘Have you heard of Suzu Claremont?’
‘The fashion designer? Yes, she’s very on trend.’
‘Well, she grew up locally before she moved to London,
