A winter's fireside tale: Anna is terrified at the thought of her Uncle being caught up in a snowstorm of treachery, bigamy and murder, but what can she do, with her own life in a precarious state? For a while, Anna's attention is turned to the cause of saving her marriage from ruin as the heartless, callous drunkard, Violet De Vine guesses the truth of the hidden secret between Anna and Raphael. Deceit, betrayal and cruelty threaten to destroy Anna, but before she can conquer these demons a more menacing terror enters her life, one which desires to enslave her forever... Meanwhile, village life in Georgian times rolls on: Millie pours forth everlasting gossip; Retty still needs watching, if there's a bottle of brandy about and Abraham and Emmaline still row and glare at each other before always making their peace. In Heartbourne, only Anna and her Uncle Christopher understand the depth of the darkness which surrounds them all, as the snow falls steadily about them.