Then suddenly, after Philip receives some mysterious and uncharacteristic letters from Ambrose, Ambrose dies. Instead of returning with his bride, Ambrose stays on in Florence to take care of some business for his bride, and then his letters start to become infrequent. Before long, Ambrose has fallen in love with Rachel and married her (we learn all this through letters Philip receives). But this year, on his travels to Italy, he runs into the Contessa Sangalletti or Cousin Rachel (a sort of relation of the family), who shares his interest in gardens. We learn as the narrative starts that Ambrose has not been in the best of health over the past few years and has been advised to travel abroad each winter which he has been doing, visiting different parts of the continent and bringing back new trees and plants which are his interest. The only people he interacts with other than the tenants are his godfather, Nick Kendall and his daughter Louise, and the vicar Mr Pascoe and his family.
While Philip has studied at Harrow and been trained for and can manage Ambrose’s estate (to which he is the heir), he has in most ways led a very sheltered existence. Ambrose is a confirmed bachelor and has raised Philip in a house with no women (after he sent the nanny packing when Philip was 3). My Cousin Rachel (1952) is narrated in the voice of Philip Ashley-Philip, 24 when the book opens, is an orphan and has been brought up by his older cousin Ambrose who has taken the place of his parents and has never let him feel their absence.
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