A WOMAN SCORNED

Temporarily leaving his thematically joined novels centered on double-standard-plagued, self-liberated women (An Innocent Woman, 1991, etc.), Macdonald presents another leisurely period novel of romantic and domestic dilemmas—but here, in a Victorian Irish setting, there's a strong lacing of fallout from a violent political crime backgrounding the lives of a clutch of bright young people. It was to be a birthday celebration for Henrietta Bellington, 16, and her friend Judith Carty. Judith, shy before Henrietta's mighty, wealthy Protestant family supping grandly at their boathouse, thought how fine and happy it must be to be ``monarchs of all they surveyed.'' Then the gunmen appeared out of nowhere and slaughtered the lot. Only Henrietta, her brother Rick, and Judith survived. Seven years later, Rick, now master of the family's Castle Moore—a master handled easily by butler King, who'd saved him from the gunfire—is content to amble through his days; Henrietta is miserably married; and Judith has returned home after her father's finances improved. Also arriving at Castle Moore is Aunt Bill—an English matron without, and burning with Celtic feud- lust within. Meanwhile, circling around the environs is a group of young folk, one of whom joins Henrietta in a roaring affair. There's much to-ing and fro-ing romantically, lots of picnics, balls, boating, and bright talk. But never forgotten is the night of gunfire and the suspicion—and then certainty—that four innocent men were executed. Will the ruling British welcome this news? The outcome is no surprise, but Judith's choice of husbands is cloaked until the end. Thoroughly enjoyable people and chat—for those fond of slow- paced tales in a low key.