You know, I think it's a shame we didn't see more of Phoebe in the book. But of course with that sort of no-nonsense and unconventional approach to all sorts of things she'd probably just have said a few pointed things to make Harriet realise not only who the poison pen is, but also that she's fancying Peter somewhat rotten, and then where would the novel have been?

But just the idea of Phoebe and her archeologist husband living and digging and raising children on equal terms together makes me giddy. Maybe that was what gave Harriet the subconscious seed of the idea that a marriage between equals could actually work.