A Beagle Romance

This is a story of three young women, widely different in character and temperament; of their work, and what it meant to them; and of the men who were part of their lives. Each of them, in her own way, seeks to make her life successful. Each of them has to face the problems and confliction that arise from this ambition. In the chequered pattern of their lives, the efforts of Frankie (already familiar to readers of 'The Traceys') to build up happiness for herself on the tragic wreck of her past, are thrown into deeper relief by the serenity of Carol, a successful business woman, and the light-hearted adventures of Sarah, gaily and resolutely seeking success on the stage.

At one stroke a car crash robs Jennifer Barbury (Mirabel Rainwood's grand-daughter) of two close friends and puts an end to her own promising musical career. To escape from the constant solicitude of the Rainwood family circle she accepts an invitation to stay with her cousin Christine in the Border country. There the sympathy is less obtrusive and there, too, Jennifer meets Joel and his vivacious four year old niece, and despite Christine's disapproval of Joel, she finds despair gradually yielding to hope again under the influence of his dominant personality and the child's unquenchable zest for life.

Celia had thought she wanted nothing more than to live out her life in Marchwood, to dig her roots in there where she belonged, to be part of it and its way of living. Looking back, it seemed odd that one man could have caused such havoc in her life. Dr. Laurence Deverel was a man's man. Being a scientist, he based his conclusions on experiments which had gone before, and his conclusions about women were not favourable. The young men Celia had known had always treated her as an equal, given her free companionship she took for granted as the natural order of things. It was not until long after she had crossed swords with Laurence and found hers a double-edged one that she realised the real quarrel between them. Could two such conflicting personalities make a success of friendship, love, or marriage?

Melanie gives up her secretarial work in London to return to her old country home, Hazelwood, which her aunts now run as an hotel. Settling easily into country life again, she finds herself caught up in romance and the intrigue which surrounds it. She becomes involved with two men, the impressionable Robin Vinchard, a friend of her childhood, and a newcomer to the neighbourhood, the cynical, much-travelled ex-reporter, Ian Lancing. Her romantic idealism colours her view of Robin and challenges the bitter scepticism of Ian, who has experienced some of the harsher realities of life. Both of these men have much to teach her, and the lessons bring confusion and unhappiness before she finds the right road.

Marriage to Paul, a respected writer, would rescue Diana from her hellish family life. But a few weeks before their wedding, she realised that was no basis for married life. And Paul, a busy man wrapped up in his own work, didn't see what was happening - nor was he there the day she ran away. Now Diana was coming back home. In a few short years, she'd become wiser and more sophisticated. She had changed and the home she was returning to had changed. But what about Paul? Would he ever understand why she had left - and would his pride allow him to forgive her?

In the lovely setting of the French Alps, Mary Rowan seemed to have found the happiness she though had passed her by for ever. What a strange twist of fate it was that David, whom she had learned to love so much, should be the one man in the world she could never marry.

Her cousin Julian had been Fiona's closest friend ever since her childhood. She was always glad of his kindness and understanding, and the refuge of his beautiful garden. Twelve years separated them in age but at eighteen, Fiona felt that Julian was still inclined to treat her as a child. In contrast, Fiona's widowed father was cold and critical towards her. At times he seemed openly hostile and did not seem to notice that she was unhappy. He planned to transform his shy daughter into a hostess who could help him attain his ambition to become mayor of Elton. But when Fiona decided she was standing in the way of Julian's marriage, the only solution seemed to be to leave home and go away for a while.

Feeling a fish out of water in the London home where her stepmother was remorselessly driving her father up the ladder of success, Charlotte escaped to a post as a secretary-companion at Heronsbridge. Here was the kind of country life she loved. Her employer, Edwina Staverton, was a delightful personality, but towards the rest of the family, especially Mike, the son making stern efforts to get the place on its feet again, Charlotte had very mixed feelings. She had set out to prove her independence - and found something more lasting.