Mrs. Wilkins sitting in her women's club during a dismal, rain-sodden English winter, espies an advert in The Times for renting a castle in Italy in April promising wisteria and sunshine. She is intrigued and notices that Mrs. Arbuthnot, a distantly recognized acquaintance from Church, is similarly engaged. "Why not enquire?" she suggests. Using her nest egg, patiently acquired from her solicitor husband's allowance and Mrs. Arbuthnot's savings from a generous, if distant, husband, it may be possible. The inquiry must overcome several challenges - the expected disapproval of Mrs. Wilkins' husband and Mrs. Arbuthnot's conscience as to the source of her income, a conscience that rails against self-indulgence and prefers expenditure on 'the poor'. This sits uneasily with her husband who writes best-selling biographies of famous mistresses! However, progress is made, and to further share the burden of the castle's expenses, two further women ar