Sophie Sinclair is surprised to inherit Aunt Lillian's considerable estate, but the bequest brings with it something equally surprising, but somewhat less pleasant. A threatened challenge to her right to the inheritance brings with it a raft of questions regarding those behind the threat. To find answers to those questions and to be prepared should the challenge eventuate, Sophie is forced to delve into Aunt Lillian's background. She discovers the Cavendish family were not quite in accord with the image they strived to portray. Sophie's forced lesson in family history research not only uncovers secrets hidden by the Cavendish family for generations, but also forces her to revisit questions about a few secrets hiding in her own family tree. Not the least of those questions is the family's relationship with Aunt Lillian. Whose aunt was Lillian, and where does she fit into the Sinclair family line? The connection isn't obvious to Sophie.