Nine Coaches Waiting

Nine Coaches Waiting is a Suspense, Gothic Romance Novel by Mary Stewart published originally in 1958.

The novel tells the haunting tale of a young English Governess Linda Martin who travels to Château Valmy, near Thonon-les-Bains, France to take care of a nine year old Philippe Valmy. There she finds herself tangled in a plot to murder her ward and tries to save Philip which eventually results in revelation of dark family secrets.

Synopsis

Linda Martin lands in Paris on a cold, gray, and rainy day. She is on her way to her brand new post as a governess to the young Count Philippe de Valmy. Having lost both his parents in a tragic accident, the nine-year-old little boy lives with his aunt and uncle in the vast and ornate Château Valmy in the French countryside. Léon de Valmy, Philippe's uncle, runs the estate on behalf of his underage nephew until he comes of age and arranged for a proper English governess for his charge. When Linda arrives at the imposing manor, she is at once enchanted by its beauty and history, but is also immediately struck by the sense of menace and doom surrounding the land and its inhabitants. Léon is a charismatic force of nature and quite charming with it, and when Linda meets his reckless and rakishly handsome son Raoul, she understands a bit more about the Valmy heritage and what makes this family tick. As she becomes closer to Philippe and Raoul, Linda draws ever nearer to putting her finger on the source of the threat. But the layers of danger and darkness run deeper than any of them guessed and she may not be able to trust those she wants to, no matter how innocent or attractive they may seem. Soon it is up to the shy young governess to beat the clock in order to save Philippe's life as well as her own.

Characters

• Linda Martin - The 23 year old English Governess who arrives at Château Valmy to take care of Philip. The Protagonist and the narrator.
• Léon de Valmy - The cynical owner of Château Valmy. He moves in wheelchair having lost use of legs in a car accident years ago.
• William Blake - An Englishman who is a forester in neighboring land of Château Valmy. The only person Linda trusts.
• Philippe de Valmy - Nine years Philip is quiet and shy. He is future owner of Château Valmy as per his birth.
• Héloïse de Valmy - Léon's wife. She is very frail and usually goes into depression.
• Raoul de Valmy - Léon's 30 year old son who is impulsive and an adventurer. He runs Bellevigne, a part estate of Valmy.
• Hippolyte de Valmy - The Valmy's youngest brother. Léon's smaller brother who is an archaeologist and generally travels.
• Berthe - The maid at Château Valmy who bonds with Linda. She is engaged to Léon's caretaker Bernard.

Notes

The novel is divided into Nine parts or 9 Coaches. The title 'Nine Coaches Waiting' is derived from The Revenger's Tragedy -

Oh, think upon the pleasure of the palace:
Secured ease and state, the stirring meats,
Ready to move out of the dishes,
That e'en now quicken when they're eaten,
Banquets abroad by torch-light, musics, sports,
Bare-headed vassals that had ne'er the fortune
To keep on their own hats but let horns [wear] 'em,
Nine coaches waiting. Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Reviews

• Nine Coaches Waiting at Goodreads