Rossmoyne

A novel written in the late 19th century. The story unfolds around the lives of two elderly sisters, Miss Penelope and Miss Priscilla Blake, who are grappling with the recent loss of their niece, Katherine, and the arrival of her children, Monica, Terence, and Katherine (Kit). The sisters view their household's transition as a delicate matter, filled with emotional reflections and familial ties intertwined with past grievances. At the start of the novel, the atmosphere is heavy with nostalgia as Miss Penelope and Miss Priscilla discuss the troubled history surrounding Katherine’s engagement to George Desmond, which ended tragically. The opening illustrates their intricate dynamics and worries about the upcoming arrival of the children, while also introducing a backstory of heartbreak and the remnants of lost love. As anticipation builds, a sense of familial duty emerges alongside the tension stemming from historical animosities, setting the stage for the children's adaptation to life at Moyne. The narrative begins to intertwine Melancholy and hope, with hints of future interactions between the young Beresfords and the Desmond family looming in the background.