A Magic Place — Iris Bromige

The Barriers of Love and Hate
Trevor Falkland-a wheelchair-bound author, hiding from a long-dead scandal.

Caroline-his doll-like wife: was she as kindly as she seemed, or did she have other motives?

Julie-their 18 year old daughter, who was too willful and sensual for her own good.

Rolf-the son of Trevor's first marriage-handsome, arrogant and full of unexplained hatred

Into this strange family mixture came "Frankie" Barbury. At the urging of her reporter brother, she'd taken a job as secretary/companion to Trevor Falkland-to discover why he'd stopped writing. But the strong family intrigue-and her own emotions-were soon getting in the way...

A Magic Place combines the charm of the other Rainwood family novels with a strong thread of mystery. It is the story of Frances Barbury, sensitive, artistic but not without her share of Grandmother Mirabel Rainwood's pride and courage.

Frankie's chosen career was the stage, but when it became apparent she had neither the toughness nor, perhaps, a strong enough talent for success, a long break from London seemed a good idea. Nicholas, her brother, a writer and critic, knew just the right opening. The charming Mrs. Falkland had enlisted his help in finding a secretary-companion for her invalid husband who had dropped out of the literary world years ago. They lived now in a beautiful but remote part of Wales.

Frankie loved the country. She also took an immediate liking to both kind Mr. Falkland in his wheelchair and his much younger seemingly fragile second wife, Caroline. The only disturbing element was Rolf, son of Mr. Falkland's first marriage.

Why was Rolf barely on polite speaking terms with his step-mother? Why was he so suspicious of Frankie's motives in coming to Riverdale? At times he seemed to trust her and be grateful that his father had found so congenial a companion, at other times he shut her out. There was a strong attraction between Rolf and Frankie, but she could not understand the guard he put up against the world. With his unjust dismissal of her their relationship seemed to have reached a bitter ending. Yet Mr. Falkland, the father to whom Rolf was so devoted, had not failed her. His legacy finally proved to be more than money: it was one of happiness.