The Orchid House - UK title: Hothouse Flower

Zusatztext "Lucinda Riley is one of the most compelling and gifted storytellers working today." Informationen zum Autor Lucinda Riley was the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including The Orchid House , The Girl on the Cliff , and the Seven Sisters series. Her books have sold twenty million copies in thirty-five languages globally. She was born in Ireland and divided her time between England and West Cork with her husband and four children. Visit her website at LucindaRiley.com. Klappentext Spanning the 1930s to the present day, from a magnificent estate in war-torn England to Thailand, this sweeping debut tells the tale of a concert pianist, Julia, and the prominent Crawford family whose shocking secrets are revealed, leading to devastating consequences for generations to come.Elsie nodded. “I’m warning you, it might take me some time to remember, but—well now, I suppose this story starts with me, when I was learning to be a lady’s maid in 1939, up at the Big House. You wouldn’t have recognized Wharton Park, Julia. The whole place was so alive, buzzing with the Crawford family and their friends. They had house parties almost every week in the shooting season. And one weekend, some friends of theirs came up from London, and I was put in charge of looking after their eighteen-year-old daughter, one Olivia Drew-Norris. She was my first ‘lady.’ ” Elsie’s eyes brightened with the memories. “Oh, Julia, I’ll never forget until my dying day, the moment I walked into that Magnolia bedroom and saw her for the first time. . . .”   10 As Olivia entered the drawing room, she had the new and not unpleasant feeling of her arrival being noted approvingly. Lord Crawford was the first over to her. “Olivia, isn’t it? My, my, how that Indian sun nurtures buds into full bloom. Snifter?” “Thanks awfully,” she replied as she took a gin from the tray proffered by the hovering butler. “Rather glad you’re my neighbor at table tonight, my dear,” Lord Crawford commented, throwing a discreet nod in the butler’s direction. He answered with an equally discreet nod back. Even if Olivia hadn’t been beside him for dinner, she was now. “So, how are you finding Blighty?” he asked. “It’s thrilling to see the country I’ve heard so much about,” Olivia lied smoothly. “My dear, I’m delighted that you should take the time to visit us in our rural Norfolk backwater. You’re doing the Season, so your papa tells me?” “Yes.” Olivia nodded. “Jolly good show,” Christopher chuckled. “One of the best times of my life. Now, let me introduce you to my wife. She was indisposed this afternoon, but seems to have recovered for this evening.” He guided Olivia over to a slim, elegant woman. “Adrienne, do meet Olivia Drew-Norris, whom I’m sure is going to break many chaps’ hearts this Season, just like you did years ago.” Adrienne, Lady Crawford, turned toward Olivia and extended her delicate white hand, and in a parody of the male handshake, their fingers touched. “Enchantée,” said Adrienne, smiling at her approvingly. “You are indeed a heartbreaker.” “It’s awfully kind of you to say so, Lady Crawford.” Olivia was beginning to feel like a prize heifer being paraded around a showground, waiting to be judged. She hoped this wasn’t a precursor of the Season to come. “Please, you must call me Adrienne. I am sure we will be great friends, n’est-ce pas ?” Lord Crawford looked down fondly at his wife. “Good show, good show. I’ll leave Olivia in your capable hands, my dear. Perhaps you can give her a few tips.” He strode off to welcome two new arrivals. Olivia took the moment to enjoy Adrienne’s own beauty. Although mature, in her early forties at least, Adrienne had the body of a slim young girl. And a beautifully sculpted face, with high, chiseled cheekbones unde...

Product details

• Authors: Lucinda Riley
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 14.02.2012
• EAN: 9781451655780
• ISBN: 978-1-4516-5578-0
• Dimensions: 137 mm x 210 mm x 28 mm
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature; Irische SchriftstellerInnen; Werke (div.)