"Drusilla Delaney grows up in a small village in England basically ruled by the Framlings. Drusilla first comes into contact with the Framlings when she is a baby. One day Fabian, the son and heir of Framling, is tired of playing the usual school boy games and decides that he wants to become a father. Upon seeing baby Drusilla in a buggy outside in the garden, Fabian "kidnaps" her, and takes her to the Big House. Thus, a relationship is formed between Fabian & Drusilla, along with Drusilla and Fabian's younger sister, Lavinia.
Drusilla becomes a companion to Lavinia, although Lavinia is spoiled, arrogant, and headstrong. Lavinia is constantly getting involved with the opposite sex, and because of this, Lady Framling sends Lavinia far away to several girls boarding schools, hoping that this will have a good effect on Lavinia. Lady Framling also decides that Drusilla will accompany Lavinia so that she can keep an eye on her. Since she is often in Lavinia's company, that means that she will run into Fabian every now and then. Although Drusilla is somewhat interested in Fabian, she would rather admire him from a far off. However, she is appalled when Fabian pursues her, hoping to seduce her.
In this story, Drusilla would like to have a life of her own, complete with love, family, and children. However, she feels that the Framlings are forever getting involved in other people's business, including her own, and make the decisions for her; so, she feels that her life is being ruled by them. Although Drusilla is an intelligent and sensible young lady, she always has to prove her worth to others simply because Lavinia is beautiful, whereas she is not. Drusilla is also constantly fighting Fabian off, who feels that because Drusilla is a poor rector's daughter, she should just automatically fall into his arms. Drusilla deplores this in him, but at the same time is attracted to him. Through her involvement with the Framlings, Drusilla will travel to London, France, and even India. In India, just when Drusilla admits to herself her true feelings for Fabian, war erupts in the country, with Drusilla barely escaping for her life. While she is in hiding, she wonders if she will ever see Fabian again."
Marie Morris, Resident Scholar
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