Alan Melzak

A Matter of Fancy Alan Melzak

A property developer in desperate need of a house falls in love with the owner. Matt Morton returns from sea to the imposing family house left to him-along with Hecate-by his late Aunt Maud. Her solicitor, Gail Ainsford, tells him that his aunt had agreed a sale, but Matt prefers to stay. Moreover, so does the cat. The seafaring Mortons had lived there since forever, and as the last of them, Matt feels obliged to write the family history. But he is broke, Aunt Maud loved horses as much as cats. And worse, the girl who made his heart race turns out to be the would-be buyer. Della Rorke has everything in place for her Riverside Project apart from the Morton house. It lies in a rundown waterfront area in need of development, though her motive is more a way of getting back at her dodgy father. Della goes to see Matt. It's apparent that the pair are falling for each other. However, Gail convinces him that Della's interest is the house. Misunderstandings follow, engineered by their double-crossing lawyers and by Della's tycoon father. Della's view changes. She alters the design of the project. By the time the lovers finally come together, her mercenary attitude to the people who live in the area has softened into a more caring one.