The story in one page
Dainty is the target of her aunt and cousins, who seek to isolate her from her fiancé, Love. Using forged notes and false rumors, the women drive a wedge between the couple. When direct social sabotage fails, the antagonists graduate to kidnapping, poisoning, and arson. Dainty survives a burning cabin, only to find her husband suffering from a memory-wiping malaise. Once the culprits are confronted by the resilient husband, the truth surfaces. Dainty and Love reclaim their home, while the villains are forced into exile without a cent.
Who's who
- Dainty
The target of a protracted campaign of familial sabotage.
- Love
Dainty's husband who struggles with selective memory loss.
- Mrs. Ellsworth
The matriarch who orchestrates the kidnapping and poisoning.
- Olive and Ela
Cousins who prefer arson to friendly domestic competition.
What it's really about
- Domestic Sabotage
- Family members actively try to ruin each other.
- Survival
- Heroine survives poisoning, fire, and kidnapping.
Why it's memorable
- A cousin fleeing a hallway encounter she mistakes for a ghost.
- A husband staring blankly at his wife, recognizing nothing.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
The antagonists are forced to leave Ellsworth at dawn, never to return, while the reunited couple spends their days rewarding those who helped them survive.
For your book club
- The hazards of letting your aunt plan your wedding.
- Why arson is an inefficient method of courtship competition.