The Reef Book 1 Chapter 1

In which George Darrow, delayed and disheartened by a curt telegram from Mrs Leath, reflects on their renewed acquaintance and the intricate circumstances of her life, only to find himself stranded in foul weather on a crowded pier, where chance introduces him to a young American woman in distress. Their shared shelter beneath a tattered umbrella offers a brief respite from the storm, as Darrow’s curiosity about her identity and their past encounters deepens amidst the gusts and rain.