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stonework, that should be.

Son within Mary?

Masonry - it has Mary with Son inside.

This would make sense of MASONRY. Thanks, I could not see it all.

I have always thought that in a cryptic crossword, that the answer should be defined somewhere in the clue. I can't see that RURITANIA is defined anywhere. Has this rule now changed ?

HOPE....follow the link mamya posted.

an imaginary kingdom of central Europe: setting of several novels by English novelist Anthony Hope (1863–1933), esp The Prisoner of Zenda (1894)

any setting of adventure, romance, and intrigue

One might "hope"

ps: also think about "place"

Thanks ...still very tenuous though.

My final clue. Cannot work this out at all.
21a A number observing old writer in new trainers (13).
I have T-A---I-L-S-R (assuming surrounding answers are correct).

Tranquilliser - trainers + quill