Line #13 Literature/ConsiderTheLily


1	[[quoteright:261:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/light_a_penny_candle_1_4.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:261:Cover of the novel on Goodreads]]
3	''Consider The Lily'' is a novel by Elizabeth Buchan, published in 1993. The story is centered on Matty Verral, a stubborn and insecure heiress, her cousin Daisy Chudleigh, and Kit Dysart, the handsome but penniless heir to [[BigFancyHouse Nether Hinton]].
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5	The novel begins in 1929, when Matty and Daisy attend the wedding of Kit's older sister Polly. Kit and Daisy become enamoured with each other, and get closer during a holiday in France. Matty [[LoveTriangle is also in love with Kit]], and on the return journey to England she asks him to marry her. In dire need of money, Kit reluctantly accepts. Daisy is furious, and Kit is resentful of relying Matty's fortune.
6	Trapped in a loveless marriage with Kit, Matty begins to focus on improving the garden, and becomes obsessed with the death of Kit's mother. Daisy's life begins to slowly fall apart, and Kit begins to realise that his selfishness could ruin his life.
7	----
8	!! This novel provides examples of:
9	* BetterWithNonHumanCompany: Danny is blunt and abrupt to the point of extreme rudeness with other people, but he's the complete opposite with dogs and horses. It's implied that this is due to [[spoiler: trauma from the horrors he witnessed during WWI]].
10	* DelicateAndSickly: Matty is often seen as being delicate due to her heart condition, which she gained after surviving a bout of rheumatic fever as a child. This leads to a significant amount of self-loathing on Matty's part, as she views herself as a burden to those around her.
11	* TheDutifulSon: Kit commits his life to improving the lot of the [[ImpoverishedPatrician Dysart family]] and refurbishing Nether Hinton, going as far as to [[MarriageOfConvenience marry Matty for her money]] while still being head over heels in love with Daisy.
12	* GenteelInterbellumSetting: The novel is set in England among the landed gentry in 1929
13	* GoodIsNotSoft: Robin, the kindly town doctor, has no problem standing up to [[TheProudElite Sir Rupert]].
14	* LawOfInverseFertility: Matty [[spoiler: yearns to have a child with Kit, but can't because of her poor health]].
15	* LoveTriangle: Between Kit, Matty and [[spoiler: Daisy.]]
16	* MarriageOfConvenience: Kit marries Matty for the Verral fortune. Their marriage is for the most part a loveless one, [[UnwantedSpouse not for a lack of trying on Matty's end]].
17	* MeeknessIsWeakness: Matty is viewed as weak and feeble because she's shy and quiet, and has trouble standing up for herself.
18	* MissingMom: Kit's mother, who [[spoiler: committed suicide when Kit was twelve]].
19	* MySecretPregnancy: [[spoiler: Daisy conceals her pregnancy from Kit, and flees to France in order to hide from gossip]].
20	* ParentalAbandonment: Matty's parents [[spoiler: died of dysentery when Matty was five]].
21	* PreppyName: Flora, Matilda and Polly.
22	* TinyGuyHugeGirl: Flora is taller than Robin, and is described as being strong and well-built. She has to bend down to kiss Robin.

Context Literature / ConsiderTheLily