Constance “Connie” is drawn into a bustling, exacting household ruled by her aunt-turned-manager, Mrs. Simes, and the artist husband she adores, Stephen Baring. From the start, the clash between Connie’s refined sensibilities and the practical demands of a crowded house tests their bond. As the family maneuvers around money, meals, and etiquette, Connie begins to see that beauty and care can mask rigidity and control. This edition follows the tensions of a fragile marriage set against an artist’s demanding world, where affection and distance mingle in equal measure.

The story centers on the collision between Connie’s delicate tastes and a husband who values his work and independence above all. When a critical moment reveals deeper strains, the household teeters between care and constraint, art and duty. The tension invites readers to consider what it means to love, to create, and to belong.

Navigate a household ruled by habit, etiquette, and the pressure to maintain appearances.
Watch a marriage tested by differences in living styles, ambition, and emotional needs.
See how art and daily life clash—and how one woman finds her own footing.
Follow the evolving relationships among Connie, her husband, and the household staff.

Ideal for readers who enjoy period dramas centered on family dynamics, artistic ambition, and the complexities of early 20th‑century households.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

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We first started out as ?The Paperback Exchange,? a chain of physical bookstores where we would part exchange your beloved books for new stories to transport you to faraway places. However, as shopping started to evolve to online shops and marketplaces, we bid our stores goodbye to become ?PBShop.? This transition has only allowed us to blossom as we now ship thousands of titles to book lovers across the globe. We pride ourselves in being a community of local book lovers which allows our passion and devotion to shine in everything we do. In 2020 we not only celebrated our 20th birthday but our 1st birthday as being completely employee owned after becoming an E.O.T in September 2019. We are proud to be different and embrace standing apart on a book mountain by working from a virtual inventory which allows us to provide thousands of books that may be difficult to get for your bookshelf or your studies. Working with a number of different suppliers allows us to explore other avenues such as puzzles, sheet music and even stationery so we really do have something for everyone. Life is about being versatile in all realms of existence. If this is your first visit or you are a returning customer, we would like to welcome you to the PBShop family, for there is no friend as loyal as a book. We are a company who put our customers at the centre of everything we do as we understand the importance of reading because once you learn to read, you will forever be free. There are a whole lot of things in this world of ours that we are yet to explore, which is why we will forever inspire curious minds.

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