Geology graduate student Clara’s got a marriage proposal to consider. A summer in Northumberland, helping her professor research ghost sightings at Deadwater Hall should be perfect to give her time to think it over. And she can work on making him see she’s the ideal material for his next teaching assistant when the new term starts. But even in these modern times of 1927 a young lady can’t possibly go off to a remote house in the wilds without a suitable companion.

Emilia’s boss, Mrs. Carney, has been trying for years to get someone inside Deadwater Hall to case the premises. For example, where the safe is located. Emilia is already one of Mrs. Carney’s “special girls” and has ambitions to do more than gathering information. Bringing back a useful report about the hall could secure her a better position and the chance to get revenge on the type of people who took everything from her.

When Emilia accompanies Clara as her maid and companion, they find various mysteries at the hall. But the mystery Clara most wants to solve is just what Emilia’s secret is. Who is this maid who speaks like an educated woman? What’s her history? And how would she look with her hair down? Clara is an open book to Emilia, but a book with surprise twists. Emilia has reason to hate people of Clara’s class, but it’s hard to hate the sweet-natured Clara. Both women will learn to see past their expectations and assumptions, and find new paths into a future together.