But then, near the end of the book, one particular plot twist had me going WHAT IS THIS I DON'T EVEN. There's plenty of drama both upstairs and down, with a cast of characters as varied (though not as well-written or well-developed) as that of Downton. And then there's Rose, the housekeeper's daughter, who has just been promoted to the post of ladies' maid, and who has secrets that she herself doesn't know she's hiding. Lady Ada carries on a secret correspondence with Ravi, who proves to have radical leanings.

At Somerton, the Averley family's ancestral home, several surprises await: Lady Ada and Georgiana will soon gain a stepmother, stepsister, and two stepbrothers. Though Ada dreams of studying at Oxford, she must begin looking for a suitable match in London's social scene. In their brief encounter, the two are instantly attracted to one another (and share a kiss! Scandalous!), but they are bound for different worlds. One evening on the return voyage, Lady Ada ventures on deck for a breath of fresh air, and encounters Ravi, a handsome Indian student bound for Oxford. Lady Ada Averley, her father, and her younger sister Georgiana are returning to England from India, with just the faintest whisper of scandal trailing behind them due to her father's abrupt resignation from his government post.

At somerton cinders and sapphires