The Silent Governess takes place on an estate called Brightwell Court. Brightwell Court is not a real place, but it was loosely inspired by the very real, very picturesque Bibury Court in the Cotswold village of Bibury, which the artist William Morris called “the most beautiful village in England.” Many thanks to author Davis Bunn for recommending that my husband and I take tea there during our first England trip. We happily did so. Not only did we enjoy the ivy-covered manor, the lovely grounds bordered by the curvy River Coln, and the greedy ducks that nipped at our scones, but I also realized it would make an ideal setting for The Silent Governess. I am not the first, nor will I be the last, to set a novel in that idyllic place. If you every have the opportunity, I hope you will visit Bibury yourself.
Photos of Bibury Court, the inspiration for Brightwell Court
