As the 20th century draws to a close Esme Reddaway knows that she must uncover the truth. It all began during the First World War when Devlin Reddaway fell passionately in love with Esme's elder sister Camilla and promised to rebuild his ancestral home Rosindell for her. But Devlin returns to England to find that Camilla is engaged to someone else. Angry and vengeful he marries Esme who has been secretly in love with him for years. Esme tries to win Devlin's heart by reviving the annual summer dance. But as the years pass she fears that Rosindell has a malign influence and the revelation of a shocking secret on the night of the dance tears her life apart.