Leo Stanhope. Assistant to a London coroner; in love with Maria; and hiding a very big secret. For Leo was born Charlotte, but knowing he was meant to be a man and unable to cope with living a lie any longer, he fled his family home at fifteen and has been living as a man ever since. But when Maria is found dead, Leo is accused of her murder and stands to lose not just the woman he loves, but his freedom and ultimately, his life.