A Damsel in Distress

Set against the backdrop of the historic Belpher Castle in Hampshire, the narrative introduces the current Lord Marshmoreton, a widower in his late forties, and his two children: the soon-to-be twenty-one Percy and the twenty-year-old Lady Patricia. The story also features Lady Caroline Byng, the chatelaine and widow of a wealthy colliery owner, along with her stepson Reginald. The author humorously acknowledges the challenge of capturing readers' attention in a fast-paced world, emphasizing the need for immediate engagement in storytelling.