Published in 1933, Rosamund’s Victory, subtitled “A Romance of the Abbey Girls,” is set in February to March of 1929 and occurs immediately after A20_The Abbey Girls on Trial, and semi-concurrently with A21_Biddy’s Secret. It is an important installment in the story because it introduces the Kane family and its complicated family tree. It also a showcase for Rosamund Kane, who is, as I have mentioned, my favorite of the heroines. Here we see her loving, attentive, and determined—a strong character going through some challenging times and winning through.
There is no folk dancing, alas. Too many more important things going on.
Plot Synopsis (Contains Spoilers)
Two young women wearing leather coats and broad-brimmed hats stop outside a duplex cottage called The Rose and Squirrel that offers teas and lunches and hand-crafted goods. They are Lisabel Durrant and Rena Mackay—remember them? We met them in A12_Jen of the Abbey School—and they are trained gardeners who are going to put the garden of an empty nearby estate in order. They beg for tea and then for beds for the night from Rosamund Kane. Tall, pretty and blonde, 23-year old Rosamund tells them that she is expecting a baby in a day or two—hearty laugh!—he is her “step-brother” (half-brother) and is six weeks old and will be coming to live with her shortly. A year or so prior to the opening of this story, Rosamund’s 60-year old father married Eleanor, the middle of three young sisters, two of whom Audrey and Elspeth, keep The Squirrel (the tea house) while Rosamund runs The Rose (the craft shop). Rosamund somewhat jokingly refers to them as her aunts. Eleanor and the baby are currently in London. [Read more…]