Ladies-In-Waiting

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26928

Title

Ladies-In-Waiting

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century social expectations, this collection of interconnected stories explores the uncertainties of love and marriage. Through the eyes of a cynical architect and a spirited singer, the narrative examines the clash between personal desire and societal duty, offering a witty, sentimental look at the lives of modern women navigating independence and romance.

Summary up to 500 words

Kate Douglas Wiggin's *Ladies-In-Waiting* weaves together the romantic and social struggles of several women navigating the tension between love, duty, and class expectations. The narrative opens with Thomasina Tucker, a talented but impoverished singer, departing for London to pursue her career. Her spirited independence is observed by Fergus Appleton, a wealthy yet emotionally detached architect who finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her vibrant nature, challenging his reservations about modern women. In a contrasting rural setting, Huldah Rumford faces heartbreak when her fiancé, Pitt Packard, marries another woman on a Friday. Huldah's distress stems not only from the betrayal but from her superstitious belief that Friday is an unlucky day; she had steadfastly refused to marry on that day, leading Pitt to choose a pragmatic match with Jennie Perkins instead. The story then shifts to a sanitarium, where Zuleika Simonds, a frivolous wealthy woman, grapples with a difficult choice between marrying her charming but poor suitor, Tom Beckett, or the serious, wealthy Dick Morton. Complicating her decision is Amy Darling, a humble girl who has secretly loved Dick Morton for years. While Zuleika's friends and family pressure her to marry Morton for social advancement, she struggles with her own feelings and the influence of her friend Laura, who advocates for noble, self-sacrificing choices. The narrative highlights themes of class disparity, gender roles, and the conflict between romantic love and practical necessity. Ultimately, the characters find their paths: some through the triumph of love over convention, others through the painful acceptance of reality. The novel concludes with a poignant reflection on the 'ladies-in-waiting' of life, exploring how women must often wait in uncertainty before finding their true place in the world, whether through marriage, career, or personal growth.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26928.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg26928.epub

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Downloaded at

2026-07-04 10:42 UTC

Categories

• Romance
• Fiction