Marry in Haste, Repent at Leisure?

Bride of Pendorric by Victoria Holt (Doubleday, 1963)

I shall never forget that September day because it brought the beginning of the real terror which came into my life, and it was at this time that I began to understand how the pleasant picture had changed piece by piece until I was confronted with the cruelest of suspicions and horror.

On the island of Capri, Favel Farrington falls in love with the dashing and mysterious Roc Pendorric. After a whirlwind romance and hasty marriage, Favel's artist father dies unexpectedly and Roc brings her home to his family estate in Cornwall. As Favel accustoms herself to her new home and family, she becomes increasingly suspicious of her husband who is just a little too familiar with the local ladies and a little too elusive about his own past. And then there are all the rumors about the previous Pendorric brides and the bad ends they came to. Does Roc really love Favel? Or did he marry her for other reasons? Is someone out to harm her? Or are those accidents just coincidence?

Bride of Pendorric made for an entertaining read. The mystery elements were quite satisfying with lots of red herrings and murder suspects --  the sexy nurse, slutty town girl, upstart governess, mad twin, etc. I was misled enough by Holt to suspect the wrong character for a very long time and then, suddenly, my eyes were opened and everything came together over a glass of milk. I remember thinking, "Favel! You widgeon! Don't drink the milk!" but it was too late. Favel drank the milk. (Good thing I remembered this was a Gothic romance and that Favel couldn't actually die).