Francis Hodgson Burnett The Head of the House of Coombe by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Amabel was born and raised in a large but poor household in the Channel Islands and her encountering Robert GarethLawless of London seems a rare stroke of good fortune for when are there ever enough eligible bachelors among these wavewashed villages? And she is to be carried off, to dine and dance with the welltodo of that most brilliant of English cities! Amabel, who takes on the nickname of Feather, loves the life she finds there even when less pleasant aspects of reality begin intruding. She learns that the GarethLawless mode of high living is based not so much on property or wealth, but upon debt and keeping ahead of the creditors . . . and then learns she is pregnant. Now Feather has come to the attention of the head of the House of Coombe a worldwise, witty man who shows great sensitivity in his own clothing, and a similarly great appreciation for what she has done for herself, in presenting herself to society. It is strange, to be receiving the attentions of so important a man. She wonders what this portends even as tragedy strikes her small household. | Francis Hodgson Burnett The Head of the House of Coombe by Frances Hodgson Burnett