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War alters the world while personal youth slips away quietly

Returning to civilian life after years in uniform leaves Lord Taborley feeling unmoored and prematurely aged. The post-war landscape has moved onward without waiting for veterans to reclaim their former lives. Meeting Terry at the station exposes how much time has slipped away during his absence. The sudden transition from military obedience to absolute freedom brings unexpected anxiety rather than immediate joy.

CHAPTER I → CHAPTER THE FIRST

Unspoken pasts create friction when former roles flip unexpectedly

A chance meeting at the War Office reveals that the distinguished General Braithwaite was once Lord Taborley's personal valet. This hierarchy inversion complicates Tabs's hopes with Terry, who favors the younger officer. Returning to his immaculate house in Brompton Square, Tabs discovers his loyal maid Ann still holds hope for the missing servant. Class expectations and wartime transformations clash as old domestic ties dissolve into personal rivalries.

CHAPTER THE SECOND

Fear of loss drives impulsive pledges that lack genuine trust

Terry arrives unannounced to confess her hasty engagement to Braithwaite, made out of anxiety rather than deep conviction. She admits her doubt over the General's secretive background while desperately asking Tabs to rescue her from the promise. Her offer to substitute Tabs as her fiancé forces him to evaluate whether affection born of nostalgia can sustain a marriage. Rebounding into safety highlights the distinction between infatuation and authentic trust.

CHAPTER THE THIRD

Pristine surfaces often conceal complex emotional survival strategies

Venturing into Chelsea's Mulberry Tree Court, Lord Taborley seeks to understand the enigmatic Maisie Lockwood. Her meticulously kept home and collection of portraits reveal a woman who uses charm and domestic perfection to rebuild her life after tragedy. Rather than encountering a cold adventuress, Tabs finds an engaging host adept at offering comfort to war-weary men. Her immaculate surroundings mask a tangled history of brief marriages and emotional self-defense.

CHAPTER THE FOURTH → CHAPTER THE FIFTH

Living with high expectations restores purpose after severe loss

Tabs challenges Maisie to stop seeking temporary solace in superficial romances and instead honor her deepest memories. By urging her to live as though her lost husband might return around the next corner, he offers a philosophy of endurance. This insistence on emotional integrity forces her to confront her habits of compromise. The sudden arrival of a mysterious visitor interrupts their conversation, driving Tabs to retreat into the quiet night.

CHAPTER THE SIXTH

Public confessions reveal hidden panic and disrupt fragile social fronts

Terry deliberately reveals General Braithwaite's humble background as a valet during a luncheon, seeking to force a definitive break. Her intentional indiscretion stems from panic over her inability to end the relationship privately. The resulting tension exposes how social friction and wounded pride govern their circle's choices. Meanwhile, Tabs contrasts Terry's desperate tactics with the quiet, dignified composure of Lady Dawn's portrait.

CHAPTER THE SEVENTH

Miraculous reunions force onlookers to evaluate their own solitude

A broken veteran waiting in Maisie's parlor turns out to be her missing husband Reggie Pollock, returned against all expectations. Witnessing their tearful reunion confirms Tabs's belief in unexpected turns of fate while leaving him acutely aware of his own isolation. Realizing he must stop settling for romantic substitutes, he resolves to pursue complete honesty. He departs into the midnight countryside to seek out Lady Dawn at her ancestral estate.

CHAPTER THE EIGHTH

Genuine understanding transcends initial romantic illusions to offer peace

At Dawn Castle, Lord Taborley engages in candid conversations with Lady Dawn, discovering a bond rooted in mutual respect rather than desperate emotional need. Their quiet communion contrasts with external post-war chaos and political ambition. As veterans like Braithwaite organize to reshape society, Tabs recognizes that personal fulfillment requires patient self-mastery. Moving beyond youthful vanity, he finds confidence that his own purpose lies just around the corner.

III → XI

Book

The Kingdom Round the Corner

A story of post-war rediscovery, honest relationships, and finding hope around the next turn.

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