This week I read a short novel by Louisa May Alcott.  The book was The Mysterious Key and What It Opened.  The book is centered around four main characters, Lady Trevlyn (Mother), Hester (Nanny/Nurse), Lillian (daughter), and Paul (various roles). 

The story begins with a pregnant Lady Trevlyn loosing her husband and giving birth around the same time.  The child Lillian grows up not really having a mother figure due to her own being ill and depressed by her husbands passing.  Hester develops a relationship with Lillian that would mirror that of a mother-daughter relationship.  The story begins with Lillian stumbling upon a young boy, not much older than she, asleep on the property.  Hester rushes to find out what is going on and finds out that the young boy, Paul, has been sent to inquire about working for the family.  He begins working with the horses and becomes a riding partner for Lillian.

Throughout the story Paul has a very sneaky and particular demeanor that the house staff cannot pinpoint.  The story leads you in and out of theories as to what motive Paul has in being there as you can tell it's not for the reason he stated to the family.  As time progresses and Lillian & Paul age he begins to tell her that he carries a locket of the women he will one day marry.  Not too long after this Paul disappears without notice.

The family soon dismisses Paul's absence and carries on.  One day while Lillian was visitng a friend she is told of a proposal in the town to a wealthy french man.  Upon visitng this man it is clear that it is Paul but he acts like he doesn't know her.  Soon Paul visits the house and explains that his proposal is gossip and although he does intend to marry it is not with whom the town stated.

Meanwhile the story continues with Paul acting very peculiar until at the very end his motives are revealed.  He was sent to locate a family document that could prove the fortune of a lady back in France.  Once he discovers the information and announces that Lady Trevlyn is not the actual heir to her fortune but the french girl Helen, the story progresses to him confessing his love for Lillian.  The picture he had in the locket was of her and he had intended on marrying her all along.