Synopses & Reviews
Born to privilege, Rosemary Fell has wealth, well-connected friends, and a handsome fiancé, Philip Alsop. One cold and rainy night she sees, under a streetlamp, the mysterious Eleanor Smith huddled against the elements. In a moment of beneficence, Rosemary invites the penniless young woman home for a cup of tea.
Arriving on the scene, Philip notices Eleanor warming herself by the roaring fire. When Rosemary sees them exchange an unmistakable look, she promptly sends the girl packing. But too late. In that one brief moment, Rosemary's carefully sculptured life has cracked beyond repair. . . .
Inspired by the classic Katherine Mansfield short story, A Cup of Tea springs to life from its rich cast of characters and brilliant evocation of the uncertain days of World War I. This darkly romantic novel engages us with impeccable plotting and a deep sense of foreboding, propelling us toward its shocking conclusion.
Synopsis
In 1917, as war looms abroad, Rosemary Fell has what appears to be a perfect life: wealth, privilege, and a handsome fiance, Philip Alsop. Then one cold and rainy night she sees, in the glow of a streetlamp, the destitute Eleanor Smith huddled against the elements. On a whim, Rosemary invites the ragged creature home for a cup of tea.
When Philip sees the impoverished Eleanor, now in one of Rosemary's fine dresses, he is struck by her beauty and unable to look away. Angrily aware of his gaze, Rosemary sends the girl packing. But weeks after that night, a chance encounter brings Philip and Eleanor together -- and leads to a passionate affair that envelops all their lives and propels them toward a shocking denouement....