Nine Coaches Waiting

Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart

Linda Martin longs to return to France, where she lived until her parents died. She's spent the last few years in an English orphanage, first as one of the orphans and then as a teacher. When she is introduced to Heloise de Valmy, who is looking for a governess for her nine-year-old nephew, the Comte de Valmy, she leaps at the job. She's so eager, in fact, that she lies a bit about her skills. Madame de Valmy seems to want an English governess who speaks little French. Linda speaks fluent French, but she hides her ability, thinking it a small sin. Little lies can sometimes lead to big adventures.

The Valmy estate is a brooding place, ruled over by the crippled, autocratic Leon de Valmy. Her charge, little Philippe, is a serious, skittish child. As she bonds with Philippe, she begins to wonder why he is the victim of so many strange accidents. Snippets of overheard conversations make her curious about Leon de Valmy too. He is Philippe's guardian and the caretaker of the estate, but he seems obsessed with the land and dismissive of the boy. Even the other servants are secretive and strange. When Raoul de Valmy, Leon's rakish son, arrives for a visit, Linda is drawn even further into the family and their mysteries. Then things take a deadly turn and Linda must  decide where her loyalties truly lie, despite what her heart might want.

Romantic suspense doesn't get any better than Mary Stewart. She's not as steamy as her modern successors, but, with just implied steam, she keeps the tension taunt. Linda is a self-acknowledged Jane Eyre, caught up in a Gothic mystery with a sinister, brooding hero. Philippe is suitably charming, as is Raoul (in completely different ways of course!). Other memorable characters include a Parisian fashion designer and and the ubiquitous English housekeeper. Descriptions are lush, as expected in a Mary Stewart novel. Readers looking for a classic romance or a classic suspense tale will enjoy Nine Coaches Waiting. Reading along with Jane Eyre can be fun too!