Martha Grey, having escaped the hard work of being a companion and nurse to the late Marcia Gilbert, and narrowly missing the dubious honour of becoming Mr. Greening's wife, leaves Seacliffe. Heading home to her now unencumbered property in Stretton Wakefield, she detours, as a final duty to her deceased employer, to deliver pets and bequests to Marcia's niece, Miss Frances Gilbert. On the journey to the beautiful but run-down estate of Cobbleigh, where Frances lives, Martha becomes unwell and o