Ivy Tree Chapters 10-15

[[deleted user]]

Please discuss the events of chapters 10-15. Please mark spoilers with spoiler tags.

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 10 I'm curious about how (view spoiler)[Donald looking for Roman ruins (hide spoiler)] will affect the plot.

[[deleted user]]

End of chapter 13 What is she thinking, covering up for that creep? (view spoiler)[He pretty much admitted that he was going to drown Julie. What kind of chances does she think she'll have once he finds out that she gets all of the money, and it reverts to Con upon her death? And, I'm going to be really angry if anything happens to Adam. I have just stopped rooting for Mary Grey! (hide spoiler)]

[HJ]

Jeannette wrote: "End of chapter 13 What is she thinking, covering up for that creep? [spoilers removed]"

I think she wanted to avoid a confrontation between him and Con, and if so I don't think it was Con she was protecting.

[[deleted user]]

I can see it that way, maybe, but it certainly made me angry. It just seems like she wants to (view spoiler)[ protect herself (hide spoiler)] more than anything else.

[[deleted user]]

I think whiskey would be more effective, but brandy does seem more refined. Brandy does warm you up quite nicely. :)

[Diane Lynn]

Willowfaerie, you must run out and purchase a bottle of brandy, strictly for research purposes;)

[Diane Lynn]

Jeannette wrote: "Chapter 10 I'm curious about how [spoilers removed] will affect the plot."

I was curious about that as well.

[Misfit, Moderator]

Diane Lynn wrote: "Jeannette wrote: "Chapter 10 I'm curious about how [spoilers removed] will affect the plot."

I was curious about that as well."

Same here. I'm just moving on to Chapter 15 (or is it 16?). I kinda had a feeling (view spoiler)[ she was really Annabelle. (hide spoiler)]

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Chapter 15: Oh my heck. I had totally missed this the first time I read this book, years ago: (view spoiler)["And Con was far enough away, in High Riggs; had been there since early morning. I turned to meet Lisa's eyes. If I had had any doubts about the naturalness of the crisis, coming, as it had done, so pat upon the signing of the will, they were dispelled by the look on Lisa's face." One more black mark against Con. And I'd never realized how deep Lisa was involved, not just with the fraud. How unhealthy is that relationship, anyway? (hide spoiler)]

A few paragraphs later: now I'm not sure. (view spoiler)[It looks like Annabel has decided Lisa is innocent after all. Does that mean the death of Annabel's grandfather was natural after all, or just that Con somehow acted on his own here? (hide spoiler)] I'm so confused.

[HJ]

Tadiana wrote: "Chapter 15: Oh my heck. I had totally missed this the first time I read this book, years ago: [spoilers removed]

A few paragraphs later: now I'm not sure. [spoilers removed] I'm so confused."

Tadiana, (view spoiler)[I don't think there's any suggestion that Grandfather's death was not natural (at least, not in my edition!). What Annabel is referring to as distasteful is their reaction to his death. She believes that Con would have been prepared to kill Grandfather and Lisa would have helped, but in fact it wasn't necessary. (hide spoiler)]

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

HJ, yes, I realized as I finished the book that this part was a momentary suspicion (view spoiler)[on Annabel's part that she later discarded completely. In fact, Annabel says a few pages from the end of the book that Con "was not yet a murderer," which is curious considering how many attempted and intended murders he had to his credit! Annabel at least twice, Julie at least once . . . He must be one of the most unsuccessful wannabe murderers in all mystery/suspense literature. (hide spoiler)]Lol.

[Hana]

I'm in the middle of Chapter 10 and Grandfather is telling Mary about the terms (view spoiler)[of the will. Oh my! Two-thirds of the money is going to Annabel in trust, reverting to Connor if Annabel predeceases or marries Connor. Connor gets Whitescar but will there really be enough to money run the place and can Annabel sign over her income to him or break the trust? A set up for big, big trouble. (hide spoiler)]

[Hana]

Ch. 10--I'm totally in love with Donald. He's glad rabbits are back after the myxomatosis epidemic "nice and fat and immune, and I hope they eat every blade of grass belonging to the brutes who deliberately gave them the disease." [I didn't know that happened in Britain. Ugh.]

[Hana]

Ch. 11 is another really intense and emotional scene with (view spoiler)[Adam. "I could feel the tears spilling hot on my cheeks and couldn't stop them....I was conscious of the silence I had left behind me, and of Adam, straightening abruptly, the pencil still in his hand, staring after me." She cried when she saw his burnt hands? This is Annabel and she's still in love with him. That has to be it. (hide spoiler)]

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

I love reading your comments, Hana!

[Hana]

Ch. 12-13 Julie's got a bit of a temper and (view spoiler)[The things she said to Con and the scene at the edge of the cliff have me wondering what really happened with Annabel eight years ago. She (I'm pretty much convinced it's Annabel, now) clearly thinks Con is a potential killer, but she's hiding that from Adam. No wonder Adam is puzzled and angry. Could it be Mary and not Annabel? Hmmm. I'm amazed that MS still has me guessing this far into the novel. (hide spoiler)]

[Hana]

Haha! You're enjoying watching me go crazy. :D This is very cleverly done, isn't it?

Darn it, I really, really do have to get some work done this afternoon. Can I make myself stop at the start of Ch. 14?

[Debbie]

I've been out watering trees so took MS with me. I'm a few pages into Chapter 11 now but I want to say two things about Chapter 10 before I read any further.

1. Yay, Tommy!! =))

2. Today I know exactly how Julie feels: (view spoiler)[ "Oh,men," she said, in accents of loathing. "Why are men?" (hide spoiler)] It's one of those days....just when you think you've got them trained...HA!!

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Oh, no, you have to read through Chapter 14! Because of reasons. Stop at Ch. 15. Hee!

[Karlyne]

Hana wrote: "Ch. 11 is another really intense and emotional scene with [spoilers removed]"

Your spoiler is exactly where I figured out the whole story the first time I read it. And when I re-read it, looking for clues, I still think I was pretty smart (I was either 13 or 14 when I first read it).

[Debbie]

Chapter 14...(view spoiler)[ and just like that...boom!...Mary/Annabel confesses? Is this the real 'reveal'? (hide spoiler)]

[Debbie]

I've finished...what a great book!! Here is my review...https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Hana]

Ch. 14 Was great! She goes out to Adam's colt (view spoiler)[and rides him bareback at a hand gallop. Not to mention the total give-away that she knew enough to warm the bit in her hand before she put it in the colt's mouth. This is a woman who totally knows horses--clearly born and raised a horsewoman. That was the moment when it was completely clear to me that she's Annabel.

And it's perfectly clear to Adam as well. Everything she says to Adam makes sense--why she left, why she was afraid of Con, why she stage-managed her return the way she did--and her motives for coming back. (hide spoiler)]

[Hana]

Ch.14 has some of the most lyrical descriptions in the book. I loved that part. But I am puzzled that (view spoiler)[Annabel does not recognize her own true feelings for Adam. His comment "And tell me this, my dear dead love, why did you cry when you saw my hands" was completely on target! I suppose that she is still just overwhelmed with the worry, the strain of the deception. (hide spoiler)]

[Karlyne]

Hana wrote: "Ch.14 has some of the most lyrical descriptions in the book. I loved that part. But I am puzzled that [spoilers removed]"

And, too, I think she was afraid to commit herself again. She'd been living in emotional "calm" all those years while she was away, and coming back reminded her of all the pain she'd been through, pain that hadn't ended happily. I think she'd decided that happily ever after didn't exist.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Yes to what both of you said, plus (view spoiler)[the lingering guilt over Crystal, and worry that Con will be a danger to anyone she's involved with. (hide spoiler)]

[Hana]

Karlyne and Tadiana, that makes a great deal of sense. Thanks!

One more big end of the week work push and then I'll finish the book. Yay!

[Hana]

Ch. 15 has the only obvious plot misstep that I've found: (view spoiler)[ Annabel (now outed, at least by Adam, comes back from riding an ungroomed horse bareback at a gallop. She has to be absolutely covered in horsehair and smelling rather horse-like. Con does not notice and the fact that he's wearing work clothes doesn't explain why he misses the fact that she's filthy. Mrs. Bates misses nothing, of course. (hide spoiler)]

[Hana]

Ch. 15 I couldn't resist adding a picture of kittens in a barn to illustrate another of my favorite scenes.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Hana wrote: "Ch. 15 I couldn't resist adding a picture of kitten in a barn to illustrate another of my favorite scenes."

So cute! I loved that scene too.

[Debbie]

Hana wrote: "Ch. 15 has the only obvious plot misstep that I've found...."

Hana I wondered about that at the time myself. But then I thought (view spoiler)[ she must have been like a woman I used to know back in my riding days. I would look like Pigpen from the Charlie Brown comics after a day riding our two horses....right down to the clouds of dust I raised with every movement. But Jackie never had a hair out of place, never seemed to sweat, never looked dirty at all, even when she rode bareback. And I could never figure out how she managed it! Teflon, maybe? =)) (hide spoiler)]

[Hana]

Haha, Debbie, I think you've got it! I've known a few Jackies and they hardly ever seem to break a sweat. Amazing.

[Katherine]

Well. I just finished "The Ivy Tree," this morning. Good story! I loved it. I don't ride horses myself, however, I thought the jump her and the horse made was amazing. "there was a gap, lay the cattle grid, eight feet of treacherous clanging iron grid - that, even if it didn't break his legs, would throw us both . . ."
"As the grid gaped in front of his feet, looking, in the dark, like a wide pit across his path, he steadied, lifted and was over . . ."

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Katherine, I'm glad you liked it. Which MS books have you read so far?

[Katherine]

Tadiana ♕Part-Time Dictator♕ wrote: "Katherine, I'm glad you liked it. Which MS books have you read so far?"

Airs Above the Ground, which is my favorite. Nine Coaches Waiting, A Walk in Wolf Wood, The Prince and the Pilgrim, The Crystal Cave, Madam Will You Talk, My Brother Michael and The Ivy Tree.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Not too many left! This Rough Magic, Wildfire at Midnight and The Moon-Spinners are especially good ones. I'm not a huge Thornyhold fan, but there are those in this group *waves to Hannah* who adore it.

Airs Above the Ground gets some mixed reviews, but I love it too, because Austria, and Lippizaners.

[Karlyne]

Tadiana ♕Part-Time Dictator♕ wrote: "Not too many left! This Rough Magic, Wildfire at Midnight and The Moon-Spinners are especially good ones. I'm not a huge Thornyhold fan, but there are those in this group *waves to Hannah* who ador..."

My reasons for loving it, too, Tadiana! I tend to get like Timothy and want pastries and dinners and coffee (mit schlag) while I'm reading it.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

You know, it's been a long time since I read AATG. I think that might be next on my MS reread list, maybe sometime this summer. Or maybe Moon-Spinners.

[Karlyne]

Tadiana ♕Part-Time Dictator♕ wrote: "You know, it's been a long time since I read AATG. I think that might be next on my MS reread list, maybe sometime this summer. Or maybe Moon-Spinners."

I love Mary Stewart in the summer!

[Katherine]

Karlyne wrote: "Tadiana ♕Part-Time Dictator♕ wrote: "You know, it's been a long time since I read AATG. I think that might be next on my MS reread list, maybe sometime this summer. Or maybe Moon-Spinners."

I love..."

A friend loaned me Touch Not the Cat and the library had Stormy Petrel, so I have two MS books waiting for me to read.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Katherine wrote: "A friend loaned me Touch Not the Cat and the library had Stormy Petrel, so I have two MS books waiting for me to read."

Don't go into either of these expecting too much. :)

[Karlyne]

Tadiana ♕Part-Time Dictator♕ wrote: "Katherine wrote: "A friend loaned me Touch Not the Cat and the library had Stormy Petrel, so I have two MS books waiting for me to read."

Don't go into either of these expecting too much. :)"

They're worth reading just because they're Mary Stewarts, but they're not her very best, are they, Tadiana?

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Exactly. I just checked my reviews for those two books: I gave Touch Not the Cat 3.5 stars and The Stormy Petrel 3 stars, and in both cases I was maybe a little generous because of my general love for Mary Stewart. But I am also a tough grader. :)

[Karlyne]

I would probably rate them a bit higher, but then I'm a push-over rater!

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Lol--Karlyne's overall average rating is 4.53 and mine is 3.5. So there you go!

[Karlyne]

Tadiana ♕Part-Time Dictator♕ wrote: "Lol--Karlyne's overall average rating is 4.53 and mine is 3.5. So there you go!"

I think I got started rating higher, because I didn't see Goodreads definition of the ratings. (I was new to the internet and didn't see a lot of things. Also, I'm near-sighted.) And, then, too, I tend to not read books I don't love!

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Very few people actually follow Goodreads' definition of the ratings: 2 is "okay"? Not for most people! I'm tougher than most, but I will rate an "okay" book 2.5 or 3 stars. I save 2 stars for books that I have bigger problems with, and 1 star for the ones I find truly awful.

[Karlyne]

Tadiana ♕Part-Time Dictator♕ wrote: "Very few people actually follow Goodreads' definition of the ratings: 2 is "okay"? Not for most people! I'm tougher than most, but I will rate an "okay" book 2.5 or 3 stars. I save 2 stars for book..."

2 stars are books that make me wrinkle my nose and 1 stars are books that make me want to hunt the author down. I tend to not read many of them, because if they're distasteful at the beginning, I throw them out fairly quickly!

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

I finish the 1 and 2 star books (or at least skim through them) so I can rant about them in GR reviews and warn others away from them! It's a public service kind of thing. :D