In this Victorian sensation novella, Natalie Graybrooke finds herself trapped between her father’s command and her own heart. Sir John Graybrooke insists that Natalie marry her cousin, Richard Turlington, a wealthy but aggressive man with deteriorating finances. To escape this fate, Natalie secretly weds her true love, Launcelot Linzie. The plot hinges on the legal and social ramifications of this clandestine marriage. As Turlington grows increasingly suspicious and violent, the couple must hide Natalie’s status as a wife while navigating the restrictive marriage laws of nineteenth-century England.
Mystery enthusiasts and students of Victorian social history read this book to understand the legal vulnerabilities of women during the 1870s. It appeals to those interested in the transition from gothic suspense to the modern psychological thriller. Readers walk away with a clear picture of how secret identities and domestic tension functioned as narrative engines in early detective fiction. The story provides a specific look at the intersection of private desire and public reputation in a rigid class system.
- Published
- 1892
- Language
- EN
