Calgary Public Library

Habits of the House

eng

no index present

non fiction

Habits of the House

electronic resource

dictionaries

795120025

Love and Inheritance

Fay Weldon's new novel takes us inside the lives of an aristocratic household in the last three months of the nineteenth century. It's a time of riot and confusion, social upheaval, war abroad and shortage of money. Tea gowns are still laced with diamonds; there are still nine courses at dinner, but bankruptcy looms for the Dilbernes. Whilst the Earl, gambler and man about town, must seek a new post in government; his wife Lady Isobel's solution is to marry off their son Arthur to a wealthy heiress, and without delay. But how? It's the end of the season, and choices are few. There's Minnie O'

Cover; Title Page; The House Awakes; A Certain Slackness; A Certain Reluctance; The Earl Opens the Door; An Early Breakfast; Grace Wakes Rosina; Her Ladyship's Troubled Morning; A Whole Day to be Reorganized; The Bringer of Bad News; Après le Déluge; How the Earl Got Them into This Mess; A Solution is Found; The Earl Walks to the House of Lords; Arthur Proposes to His Mistress; Lady Isobel Instructs the Staff; Another Task for Grace; An Informal Party Comes and Goes; Grace Presents her List; Arthur Pays Another Visit; The Earl of Dilberne Lunches with the Powerful; Arthur Declines a BrideSomething Turns UpHer Ladyship Receives Tessa O'Brien's Card; Eating Out: a Dinner Party at Pagani's; Angry People; Mrs Baum Waits; Tessa Tells Minnie How It Is -- Or Tries To; A Proposal at Second Sight; A Matter of Reputation; Arthur is Moved to Visit Flora; The Gift of Equal Status; The Earl of Dilberne Contemplates the Future; The Fitting of the Dresses; In the Servants' Hall; His Lordship Starts a Company; Grace at Brown's; Minnie's Odd Ideas; Minnie Prepares to Go Riding; Warm Toes in Golders Green; Minnie Asserts her Rights; Riding in Rotten Row; Grace and Tessa go ShoppingSome Things, Once Said ... Tessa Too Lets a Cat Out of the Bag; Rosina Spills the Beans to Minnie; A Dinner in Preparation; A Reconciliation Below Stairs; Rosina and Minnie Shop at Liberty & Co; The Earl Makes a Mistake; In the Cabinet Office; Taking Tea at Liberty's; Rosina Goes to Vine Street; In the Servants' Hall; The Trip to Dilberne Court; A Household Upset; Tessa Makes a Visit; The Bear at Esher; Rosina Challenges Her Mother; Rosina Sets Pappagallo Free; Her Ladyship Faces the Truth; Arthur Goes to Half Moon Street; Minnie Weeps All Day; A Busy Day at the Baum's; A Busy Day Below StairsA Busy Day Above StairsRosina the Beautiful; Mr Baum Makes His Move; The Return of His Lordship; A Royal Dinner; About the Author; About the Book; Table of Contents; Copyright