Mr. Waddington of Wyck

Barbara Madden arrives at a country manor to act as secretary to the solemn Horatio Bysshe Waddington and companion to his lively wife Fanny. The narrative follows her early days learning the house, adjusting to contrasting temperaments, and negotiating old friendships and unspoken tensions between women who were once close. Domestic detail and portraiture highlight character differences—Fanny's fluttering vivacity against Horatio's solid reserve—while practical worries about the work, loyalty to a former secretary, and social expectations prompt Barbara's self-questioning. Memory, companionship, and the challenge of fitting into established roles quietly surface throughout.