Victorian England

The story takes place in England during the reign of Queen Victoria, which lasted from 1838 to 1901. The story takes place after 1861, since Prince Albert is already deceased. Because Queen Victoria is celebrating a jubilee, the story takes place in 1887 or 1897, which were celebrated to commemorate 50 and 60 years of her rule respectively. Under her reign, India was formally incorporated into the British Empire. The Empire flourished under her reign. The Victorian era also coincided with the rise of first wave feminism.

Darlington House

Darlington House is the home of Miss Darlington, Cecelia Bassingthwaite, and Pleasence, when the novel begins. Physically, the home is described as “a somber edifice, pale and narrow, with three stories and two modestly haunted attics” (28). When seen in battle, it is identified as “That smaller town house darts like a wasp” (233). To Cecelia, Darlington House has been her home for over a decade, but...