Mistress of Elvan Hall — Mary Cummins

"One doesn't marry for love of a house."

Annie had told Francis Wyatt that when he asked her to become mistress Elvan Hall. She had accepted nevertheless, unable to refuse the man she secretly loved -- even though he said nothing of loving her.

And now his family treated her with a deep resentment. As if someone else, namely Caroline Cook, should be in her place! But Francis had married her and she was not giving up on him.