Signe Carlson's eccentric Aunt Anna, the Countess of Larsborg, descends on Buckingham for the Christmas holidays. Although delighted to entertain Anna, Signe is distracted by the grief of her youngest daughter, Jenna, who is trying to recover from the murder of her long-time paramour, Jared Amory. In addition to the crisis that Jenna is precipitating, Mick McKenna is given an undercover assignment by the CIA and he can't tell even Signe where he will be going. Despite the 3-ring-circus already going on at home, matters take on an even more deadly turn that leaves Signe in the hospital fighting for her life.