Gavin Lioncroft is a murderer. It is said that he murdered his parents and has been the family pariah for a decade. His sister decides to hold a house party so that she can marry off her daughter. Lioncroft finds he is attracted to Evangeline, a member of the house party, but also thinks some of her behaviors are odd. During the party there is another murder and Lioncroft is the prime suspect, a situation he needs to deal with. He finds he can confide in Evangeline but does not understand why he feels a connection.
Lioncroft is regretful at the break of family support for him at the death of their parents and to this end he does not want to mix with many members of his family but they have imposed themselves upon him and his hospitality. He is angry at the imposition but finds relief with Evangeline and tries to grapple with his attraction to her. As he has not mixed in society much in the past decade his gentlemanly skills are severely depleted and he acknowledges this to himself. He doesn’t think he can talk to his nieces but he becomes the beloved uncle through his actions. He doesn’t feel he can effectively communicate his feelings towards his sister without anger and a degree of suspicion at how she might react to the conversation. His feelings towards Evangeline have him thinking about what he wants and the direction of his life.
Evangeline Pemberton is an orphan. She does have a step-father but her real father is unknown and her mother has died. She runs to her mother’s old friend who then insists that she be the intermediary between her daughter Susan and the Lioncroft. Lady Stanton knows that Evangeline also has a gift and tries to use it against her. When Evangeline touches someone she can sense their feeling and see things. One of the house party is murdered and Evangeline tries to find out who the murderer is by touching them under pressure from those around her. This brings her closer to Lioncroft and his, until this house party, reclusive nature.
Evangeline is used to rough treatment even though she tries to take people at face value. She becomes upset when those she trusts to do the right thing disappoint her. Her gift makes her an open person but also wary. She is horrified when Lady Stanton throws her to the wolves but still struggles to maintain a friendship with Susan, Lady Stanton’s gossipy daughter. Evangeline tries to keep her gift secret but the servants gossip and the gift is then being traded and wanted for nefarious means.
This is not society at its best. In fact, this novel seems to be the antithesis of many of the historicals available where the entire family come together at the end and there is love all around. There is domestic violence, young girls who have embarrassed the family in front of society and the desperation to marry them off, affairs, murder and general distrust of other family members. Throw in Lady Stanton, a long ago family friend, and the reader has a mix of the underlying and unattractive layer of society and the mayhem which may leave the reader shaking their head at events.
This story is definitely not light and deals with many issues among families, particularly those in the aristocracy who have the added dimension of titles, estates and major inheritance to consider. The character of many of the participants in this story are some of the worst found in people but it makes the story and the plot move and flow. This is certainly an interesting story which is not full of goodness and light and makes for an excellent read.
