Frenchman's Creek

This chapter has a wonderful mood of mystery and nostalgia and is a super introduction which gives depth to a love story which may have been less without it.It bears comparison with the opening chapter of du Maurier's more famous novel "Rebecca",
which is also used to only hint at what is to come and primarily to give us a feeling of place and context. It reflects du maurier's love for the Cornish coast.
Would any publisher today allow this 'indulgence' by one of their authors? Would the readers allow it??