Some of them belonged to the elegance and intrigue of Mansfield Park... others could not stay away

Mary -- the charming, duplicitous lady, determined to defy her fatal illness and to find a match for her bachelor brother...

Henry -- the ever-fickle suitor, soon to be outfoxed at his own game...

Tom -- the handsome, profligate gentleman whom love may soon civilize...

Susan -- the poor cousin who must brave the obstacles of class and convention to win the man she has always loved, and the prize of Mansfield Park...

Inspired by Jane Austen's beloved masterpiece Mansfield Park, Joan Aiken has written a brilliant novel of love and manners, status and social sham, and the gentle scheming of unforgettable characters.