My Cousin Rachel

Great start.  Main character as little boy sees hanged man at the crossroads--the old days.  He throws a rock at the corpse, then vomits in sorrow/confusion at the scene. His uncle Ambrose raises him. Idyllic male world, but Ambrose has rheumatism. he goes to Italy for the winter, falls in love with their cousin Rachel, gives up his bachelor status, marries her, is happy, stays in Italy, sends letters indicating he is miserable, dies.  Main Character now is in Italy trying to sort all this out.  Who is Rachel?  Young? Old? Kind? A witch?  We'll find out.