Jemima, eagerly looking forward to her wedding with Baron St Trevone, is delighted when his Great Aunt Miriam invites them to Somerset so that she an meet his future bride. Accompanied by her maid Alice, they journey to Sprole Castle, the family home of the Carrolls, only to discover all is not well. Great Aunt Miriam has taken ill and is confined to her bed. Most of the servants have been let go. And the household is being run by a very odd collection of people, none of whom can be trusted. Jemima and Ruan certain don't! As if all this wasn't bad enough, Jemima is confronted by an echo from St Trevone's past in the guise of one Mme. Despard, a French spy who has sworn to take revenge for the death of her husband. What was supposed to be a pleasant trip into Somerset to wile away the short time left before her wedding has suddenly turned into a dangerous mystery, one that must be solved before things turn deadly. Will she and Ruan even reach the alter? Jemima is determined to seize hold of her happiness and she won't let the past - or the present - stand in her way.

Jemima, eagerly looking forward to her wedding with Baron St Trevone, is delighted when his Great Aunt Miriam invites them to Somerset so that she an meet his future bride. Accompanied by her maid Alice, they journey to Sprole Castle, the family home of the Carrolls, only to discover all is not well. Great Aunt Miriam has taken ill and is confined to her bed. Most of the servants have been let go. And the household is being run by a very odd collection of people, none of whom can be trusted. Jemima and Ruan certain don't! As if all this wasn't bad enough, Jemima is confronted by an echo from St Trevone's past in the guise of one Mme. Despard, a French spy who has sworn to take revenge for the death of her husband. What was supposed to be a pleasant trip into Somerset to wile away the short time left before her wedding has suddenly turned into a dangerous mystery, one that must be solved before things turn deadly. Will she and Ruan even reach the alter? Jemima is determined to seize hold of her happiness and she won't let the past - or the present - stand in her way.

Jemima, eagerly looking forward to her wedding with Baron St Trevone, is delighted when his Great Aunt Miriam invites them to Somerset so that she an meet his future bride. Accompanied by her maid Alice, they journey to Sprole Castle, the family home of the Carrolls, only to discover all is not well. Great Aunt Miriam has taken ill and is confined to her bed. Most of the servants have been let go. And the household is being run by a very odd collection of people, none of whom can be trusted. Jemima and Ruan certain don't! As if all this wasn't bad enough, Jemima is confronted by an echo from St Trevone's past in the guise of one Mme. Despard, a French spy who has sworn to take revenge for the death of her husband. What was supposed to be a pleasant trip into Somerset to wile away the short time left before her wedding has suddenly turned into a dangerous mystery, one that must be solved before things turn deadly. Will she and Ruan even reach the alter? Jemima is determined to seize hold of her happiness and she won't let the past - or the present - stand in her way.