Angels and Insects

Naturalist William Adamson returns home after losing his possessions in a shipwreck on a recent Amazon expedition. He is taken in by his benefactor, Sir Harold Alabaster, and must rebuild his life at the estate. This return sets the stage for his involvement with the Alabaster family and Matty Crompton.

William is employed to catalog Sir Harold's specimen collection and to teach the Alabaster children the natural sciences. He also assists their governess, Matty Crompton, strengthening his ties to the household. The role marks his entry into daily family life.

William becomes enamoured of Eugenia, Sir Harold's eldest daughter, a softly spoken and anxious young woman mourning her fiancé. Their growing attraction unfolds within the household's routines and social expectations. The romance drives much of the ensuing tension.

Despite his impoverished circumstances, William proposes to Eugenia, and she accepts. Sir Harold grants his approval, though the union is marked by class differences and lingering family tensions. The couple's alliance seems secure on the surface.

Eugenia becomes pregnant, beginning a family that the couple will raise together. Their happiness is tempered by social constraints and the strain of breeding a legacy within the Alabaster household. The pregnancy foreshadows future conflicts.

Edgar, Eugenia's snobbish brother, resents William's humble origins and resists his place in the family. The animosity between Edgar and William adds a simmering conflict to the marriage. This tension will complicate the couple's life together.

William spends much time with the Alabaster children and Matty, observing an ant colony in the forest as part of his scientific pursuits. He plans to write a natural science book, and the forest rambles deepen his bond with Matty. The project anchors him in the natural world beyond the household intrigue.

Returning from a stable excursion, William witnesses Edgar raping a teenage servant. Edgar claims the girl consented, but she is clearly terrified. The revelation exposes a dark undercurrent in the household and tests William's loyalties.

Matty reveals to William that she knows about the incest and that the servants were aware as well. Their revelation deepens their partnership as they navigate secrets that threaten the family’s stability. Matty also hints at a personal break from the life they know.

Matty tells William that she has published her own book on insects and has bought tickets for a ship to the Amazon. She asserts her resolve to leave, and presses William to consider joining her for a new life. The plan shifts their future from the estate to the rainforest.

William feels torn, but Matty's insistence about strength and shared purpose convinces him to leave. He agrees to embark on the new life with her and to support Eugenia's children from afar. The bond between them becomes the catalyst for a fresh start.

Before leaving, William meets Eugenia and vows never to return, while promising to continue financially supporting their children. He also pledges to keep her secret to spare her ailing father further pain. The agreement caps their complicated relationship.

Matty and William prepare for their voyage to the Amazon, with Matty asserting her strength and determination. William's reluctance softens as he recognizes the permanent break from his past life. They plan to chart a new course together.

William and Matty depart in a coach for Liverpool, beginning their new adventure and leaving the Alabaster past behind. The voyage to the rainforest becomes their shared future and a continuation of William’s scientific pursuits.