Quick read, terribly melodramatic. The family conspiracy plot was par for the course, but I liked Margaret and Charles's chemistry. It was actually realistic, the little barbs and jealousies of lovers parted unwillingly. They had their happy ending. 

The damsel in distress made me wonder if perhaps she was mentally challenged and the writer was conveying this without offending the sensibilities of the time. Her behaviour choices were very strange. 

That said, Miss Silver's role was small but effective. She was an unsettling shadowy figure herself.

The villain was a nice choice, if predictable. The ending was wrapped up off scene and for the life of me, I don't know why the villain felt a need to monologue. Very silly and quite ruined the reveal.