Publisher's Synopsis
With the death of Mr Everard, the Swanley Court School is short of a trustee. The Bishop of Norchester suggests his own Godson, one Lucius Belvoir, whose avocation and business are horticulture. Libby is keen to involve her girls with growing food for the table or flowers for the parlours and asks Lucius to fill the vacant post. After a rather unfortunate start, since Lucius is bedevilled by a misapprehension, Lucius and Libby begin to form a somewhat stormy partnership, united over the problems caused by some of the choicer spirits from the harsh Oxford school. The Goyder twins are now old enough to be more use than problem, but are keen to be out in the world before the O'Toole twins are old enough to cause mayhem. Add to the mix Lucius' much younger brother, who has a deformed hip, the problems surrounding the orphan girl he meets and brings with him, and the malice of a family the Belvoirs have informed on, and the transition to a new trustee is never going to be quiet and peaceful.
