Malplaquet is so immense, and Maria’s opportunities for escape so few, that until now she has never explored Mistress Masham’s Repose, a classical temple on an island in the Quincunx, one of the estate’s lakes. Indeed, now I think of it, Maria has much in common with the Wart: an enquiring mind, a capacity to lose herself in the contemplation of nature, fierce loyalty to her friends – all ideal qualities for a hero/ine. Fortunately for Maria, Malplaquet is also home to Cook, to Captain the dog, and to an elderly Professor who is obviously the reincarnation of Merlin from The Sword in the Stone. Her guardian, Mr Hater – ex-public schoolmaster and now Vicar - is systematically milking the estate for everything he can, and has appointed the thoroughly nasty Miss Brown to be her governess between them, this repulsive pair have plans to cheat Maria out of her inheritance. Ten-year-old Maria, whose eyes are “the colour of marmite”, owns Malplaquet, larger than Buckingham Palace, with 52 state rooms and 365 windows, all but six of them broken.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |