It's never been easy accepting her status in the family heirarchy having a nonconformist attitude, disgracing her parents over an alleged scandal at the school where Louise was a PE teacher she was persuaded by her father to leave the family home, Amblesby House, a fine Georgian manor in the heart of Cumberland. By deed poll she became Frances Collins to avoid any awkward questions when she moved to Kebsworth in Norfolk where she met Tim in the local library. He was a prolific unknown artist with a sinister outlook on his work, he cajoled her into a sleazy world posing as the Mysterious Maiden and their actions resulted in catastrophic circumstances. Louise's return to her family home causes some unrest amongst the locals, her recent artistic behaviour on top of her scandal gave the local gossipmonger the ammunition to discredit her. The family solicitor Arnold Featherstone, who has his own problems and unscrupulous connections became her suitor, Louise admired his resolve to assist her with financial matters and her new project an art gallery for her Mysterious Maiden exhibition, unbeknown to her another man is keeping an eye on the goings-on at the manor since her return. An old schoolfriend suddenly visits the house with a menacing proposition that alarmed Louise into thinking fast before matters become uncontrollable, with a little gentle persuasion Lizzie never returned to darken her doorstep again. Louise often reads the three unreturned library books where the contents soothe her troubled mind when she contemplates all the wrongdoings she has created; the thought of incarceration over her misdemeanours is unthinkable. Aware time is running out before she could be brought to justice Arnold had an idea to help both of them, she has to sell the manor, Louise feels apprehensive about leaving as she has deceived his Italian family who secretly arranged to take her assets. After the discovery of a body in a quarry she is under surveillance by the police who arrange a dawn raid only to find she has disappeared before their arrival, her whereabouts and destination is unknown apart from one person. A policeman with a personal grudge against her decides to track her down, he is not the one with a mission. Living the rest of her life looking over her shoulder with the burden of guilt she bought on by the consequences of her actions, she knows that only too well, just being Louise isn't easy.