It's strange that Effie should dream about Florentine Heatherington, in fact it's odd that she should dream at all, for surely dreams are only meant for the living. But what if it wasn't a dream, what if her ancestor was there to welcome her to the spirit world....
After a disorientated Effie realises she didn't perish at Hartland after all, her best friend Mace explains how they arrived safely back at Briarwood. But is he keeping something from her? When she sneaks outside for some cool night air, she has an encounter with the tonic ridden Gideon, who seems keen to speak with her. The following day he makes an unexpected proposition, one that Effie cannot agree to. But can she let go of her greatest love, and can he let go of her...and what of Noble? When Isaiah mysteriously turns up in the village he comes up with an idea that could be an answer to Effie's problem, but it will mean returning home to Rawlings.
After saying her goodbyes, Effie reluctantly leaves Briarwood with Isaiah and the man she has finally chosen to be with. Only on their arrival she is immediately plunged into confusion and panic. It soon becomes clear that in order to prevent a tragedy she must agree to Isaiah's little bargain, even if it means losing something that is very close to her heart.
Effie is settled now, and it appears she has found true happiness. If only she didn't have a tiny nagging doubt festering at the back of her mind, a grave concern that she's desperately trying to repress. And then there's her - the mad woman, who seems determined to torment Effie and her loved ones.
When Effie suddenly finds herself forced back to the hellish monastery she is confronted by the mad woman, who has something planned for Effie, something that will change everything. But where is Septimus, and why is Noble there too? When Mace and Gideon sneak their way in, Effie is overjoyed to see them, only her happiness is shortlived when their idea doesn't go according to plan, and the mad woman retaliates by using a failsafe form of emotional torture on Effie to ensure she gets what she wants. However, when the mad woman's monumental plan goes disastrously wrong, a terrible disaster befalls the monastery.
Being back in Briarwood is bittersweet for Effie, for she's haunted by what happened at Hartland, and is troubled by worries that will no longer leave her. When Mace asks her to help with Clarice, who is in a dangerous mental state, Effie realises they must return home before something terrible occurs. Only not all is well at Rawlings and Effie soon finds herself deep in mourning. When an unexpected visitor suddenly turns up at the house, Effie is completely flabbergasted by what their intentions are, prompting her to angrily confront Isaiah, who has been making his presence increasingly known at Rawlings. But after a visit from a solicitor his plans for the future lay in tatters.
When a terrible tragedy befalls Rawlings, Effie and Mace are deeply saddened by what has happened, and they are also mystified at how Gilbert, the old toy puppet, ended up in the garden...and why does he have the attic key in his possession? However Effie's sorrow suddenly turns to joy when someone she believed lost makes a sudden appearance.
As Effie sits on the bank, looking down into the valley of outstanding beauty, she contemplates life, and why sorrow followed her back to Briarwood and dealt her one last devastating blow. As grief clutches her in its icy grip, it casts a dark shadow over her heart. Can she find the love she truly deserves or will sorrow consume her?
