Frances Hodgson Burnett 
The Head of the House of Coombe 

‘The Head of the House of Coombe’ by Frances Hodgson Burnett follows the relationships between a group of pre–World War One English nobles and commoners. Lord Coombe is considered to be the best-dressed man in London. He is also a man whose public reputation, despite his formidable intellect and observant eye, is one of unmitigated wickedness. During one of his social forays, he meets a selfish young woman named ‘Feather’ with the face of an angel. Fascinated by her, he slowly drifts into her circle. When her husband dies unexpectedly, leaving her alone and desolate in London, he ends up taking her under his wing. Feather also has a daughter named Robin, of whom she takes little notice.