A young woman seeking refuge from wartime London finds herself entangled in the dark secrets of a decaying country estate. Bethany Merston arrives at Summerhayes in the summer of 1944, displaced by the Blitz and tasked with caring for the elderly Alice Summer. The estate itself is a ruin, mirroring the fractured state of its inhabitants and their past. As Alice is tormented by anonymous letters and unsettling visions, Beth initially dismisses them as the product of a troubled mind. However, the oppressive atmosphere and Alice's increasingly erratic behavior compel Beth to investigate the aristocratic family's history, uncovering long-buried scandals and a household on the brink of collapse.

The premise sets up an atmospheric mystery within a historical context, suggesting a narrative that relies on suspense and the gradual unveiling of secrets. The description points to a focus on character relationships, particularly the dynamic between Beth and Alice, and the psychological impact of the war and the estate's decay on its inhabitants. The blend of historical setting and gothic undertones implies a story that explores the past's influence on the present, with the crumbling estate serving as a metaphor for the family's hidden troubles. Readers can anticipate a tale rich in historical detail and suspenseful intrigue, culminating in the revelation of long-concealed family scandals.