The Mysteries of the Deep Heart Book II

Bella - spoilt, only child of a widow emotionally frozen in grief by the untimely death of her clever soldier husband, marries the brilliant but emotionally retarded scientist, James Allingham. They devote themselves to climbing and shining in the upper social echelons of intellectual society. Their children suffer greatly from lack of parental love and struggle to make their way in life. Their brainy son Jeremy James, longs to escape aspects of the cultural class tyranny into which he was born, choosing Aurora - warm, unstuffy and able, to help him do that and total absorption in his academic work. Christopher remains emotionally detached from his parents' extreme emotions, finding ways to appease the consequences of their terrible rages, supporting their domestic needs via his practical skills and expertise. Camilla Clare hides her true self, desperate for empathy, gadding about and playing the fool. They variously seek peace and happiness.