That’s the word most descriptive of the third “episode” in Cynthia Harrod-Eagles’s newish series about the inhabitants of Ashmore Castle. This one is called The Mistress of Ashmore Castle, although I was a bit puzzled, by the end, at the name, since the book seems to divide its attention equally between multiple “actors” without focusing particularly on Kitty, aka the new Lady Stainton.

Lord Stainton, Giles, has rejected the stifling existence at the castle to resume his chosen avocation excavating tombs in Egypt, leaving poor Kitty behind to cope with their young son, the house, and the rest of his family, while longing for him to return. Kitty seems to be the only one in her family-by-marriage (my mother always called them “the outlaws,” which works here) to love the person with whom she is paired; Giles remains enamored of Kitty’s best friend Nina, who is married to the elderly and smitten businessman Joseph Cowling but who returns Giles’s affections. Both must keep their forbidden feelings a secret from their respective spouses and from everyone else; Nina attempts to deflect her energies towards a pursuit of women’s rights, while Giles is reunited in Egypt with Julia, the daughter of an old friend on a previous dig, who was six years old when he met her but is now in the full flower of sultry Italian womanhood. He is enjoying what he thinks is the simple resumption of their friendship, but his attentions may be giving Julia other ideas. (Giles is kind of a dick.)

Meanwhile, Giles’s sister, Rachel, is having her coming-out season in London. Fueled by Kitty’s money, Giles’s mother has thrown a lavish ball for the richly attired and vivacious Rachel, at which she is supposed to fall in love with a suitable suitor and make a marriage; instead, she succumbs to an infatuation for her cousin Angus, who reciprocates her passion despite his father instructing him to propose to Diana, a wealthy heiress. Thus ensues much wailing and angst and a convoluted letter-writing campaign (Angus resides in Scotland) enabled by their sisters’ connivance.

Meanwhile, Giles’s other sister, Alice, still harbors a doomed passion for the hunky woodsman on the Ashmore estate despite his inherent unsuitability; his uncle Sebastian continues his hopeless pursuit of the castle’s seamstress, who loves him but already has a husband somewhere in London; and his brother Richard hasn’t given up on persuading their father’s former mistress to come away with him to Europe, if only he can find the funds to support them both. There is even a romance (of sorts) in the offing for Giles’s formidable mother, Maud, the previous Lady Stainton, who is much affronted by anyone daring to approach her in this way, but is also considering the alternative—no longer ruling the roost of her former home, and collapsing into grandmotherhood—and wondering if a second marriage could be tolerated if enough wealth came along with it.

In short, there is not one truly happy individual in the entire bunch, either above- or below-stairs. And non-romantic drama is also brewing amongst the staff, as Mr. Moss (the butler) suffers a loss that is taken advantage of by the dastardly footman James Hook, who covets money and position and will ruthlessly exploit his position to gain both.

The ins and outs of all the relationships are simultaneously enthralling and exhausting, and while I enjoyed reading this one as much as I did the first two, Ms. Harrod-Eagles has once again dropped the ending amidst multiple cliffhangers, causing me to swear audibly at breakfast when I turned the next page only to find a listing of “other books written by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles.” And once again I have read the latest volume of this series mere days after its release, so a long year of anticipation for the next will again ensue. Sigh.

On an up note, a friend on Facebook just told me that Elly Griffiths has just published the last in her series about archaeologist Ruth Galloway, in which she finally resolves the relationship between Ruth and her baby-daddy, DCI Harry Nelson. Since I hadn’t yet read what turns out to be the next-to-last book, I’m perusing it now, so I can get on to the big finish.