Out of the Rain (1987) by Elizabeth Cadell

 

💕 In the excitement for #NovNov26 and #NonFicNov26, I almost forgot that I have actually finished reading Elizabeth Cadell's Out of the Rain in October. It was a charming and comforting read (I listened to the audiobook), that soothed my stressful life then. This was my second Cadell's book; the first was The Golden Collar, which I loved. And the premise of this one is very similar to The Golden Collar: a big-city-boy is forced - or harrassed is more appropriate - to have business deal with a charming free-spirited family, only to be falling in love with the country life of the family he was supposed to 'handle'. But this book has a little deviation from that formula, although the result is as charming as the other.

💕 Edward Netherford is a lawyer, succeeding his father's business. He lives a quite contented bachelor life in a small apartment in London. A wealthy family - longtime clientele of his father - came and "bully" him to deal with their father's second wife, whom, they claimed had illegally withhold the return of three impressionist paintings originally belonging to the family. Interestingly, the second wife is actually the family's ex housekeeper, whom the father had married - happily - several years before his death. The paintings were his gift to her, who had cared and truly loved him. But the second wife is a brave woman, and does not easily succumbed to the arrogant children - she would return the paintings, but in her own term. Meanwhile she's excited to see them squirm in incompetent rage. 

💕 To do his bidding, Edward Netherford left his comfortable office in London, and headed to York. The hotel he usually stays in - belongs to his school friend - was on fire, and the only accommodation available in such short notice was a former B&B located miles from York. It's a rather messy house owned by a widow with three children, her mother, and grandfather. The chaotic life of Estelle Denby - the widow - is a far cry form Edward's well-ordered life in London. And that makes his adjusting and melting into the family's life is so charming to follow. Of course, there's a romance budding also, as you would have expected from Cadell.

💕 The business with the three paintings is what makes this book similar to The Golden Collar - where the main character changed his view about the task he should have performed, and symphatized instead with the supposed "villain". That - along with the romance aspect - is what makes these novels are satisfying to read. The easygoing and free-spirited personalities of the country folks, and the simple life they lead, added more charm to it. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2