Lavender and Old Lace

"Lavender and Old Lace" by Myrtle Reed is a story from the early 1900s where a city woman named Ruth Thorne seeks comfort in the countryside at her Aunt Jane Hathaway's old house. Ruth's peaceful retreat is disrupted by mysteries, like a strange lamp that has to be lit every night in the attic, and a strange woman named Miss Ainslie that everyone seems to whisper about. As Ruth settles in, a request from her aunt reveals responsibilities and dark secrets. Her exploration of the home and its hidden treasures lead to uncovering family secrets. Ruth wrestles with feeling like she doesn’t belong, amidst encounters with her aunt’s housekeeper, Hepsey, and a possible romance with a newcomer named Carl Winfield, which all help her on her journey of finding herself.