The story in one page
In a town run entirely by women, protocol is the primary currency. Miss Matty Jenkyns spends her days balancing social calls with the strict expectations of her peers. When she loses her modest income, her friends and her former servant Martha rally to protect her, while the town navigates the social fallout of a peeress marrying a village surgeon. The return of her brother, Peter, provides a much-needed sense of closure, as his arrival finally forces the town’s feuding factions to stop their bickering and embrace a newfound, quiet peace.
Who's who
- Miss Matty
A gentle, elderly spinster managing her own small household.
- Mrs Jamieson
A pompous social arbiter who guards the town's hierarchy.
- Lady Glenmire
A pragmatic peeress who defies social norms by marrying downwards.
- Mr Peter
Matty's globetrotting brother who returns to smooth over local disputes.
What it's really about
- Social Protocol
- Etiquette acts as a shield against unpredictable change.
- Female Solidarity
- Support networks form quietly outside the public eye.
Why it's memorable
- The town women reacting to the scandal of a peeress marrying a country surgeon.
- Mr Peter regaling a horrified Mrs Jamieson with tall tales about shooting cherubs.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Peter skillfully brokers a truce between rival social circles, ensuring that Miss Matty can spend her remaining days in a peaceful, harmonized community.
For your book club
- Why does a town of women perceive an ordinary surgeon as a threatening invader?
- How does the constant fear of scandal define the residents' daily lives?