I was scared when I saw the house so dark and silent. The servants are too quiet. It's as if they have a secret . . .Nineteenth-century Italy. Bianca, a gifted young watercolourist, arrives at a grand villa outside of Milan, commissioned to illustrate the plants in its magnificent grounds. She quickly settles into her new home, invited into the heart of the family by the eccentric poet Don Titta and his elegant wife. Soon, however, Bianca develops a special affection for one maid, who, she is intrigued to learn, has mysterious origins . . .But as Bianca's determination to unlock the secrets of the villa grows, she little notices the dangers that lie all around her. Who is the mysterious woman she has glimpsed in the gardens? What could Don Titta and his friends be whispering about so furtively? And while Bianca watches so carefully for clues, who is watching her?'Evocative . . . engaging, and the landscape clear and lovely in the reader's mind' Sydney Morning Herald