The year is 1830 and a letter arrives for Cassandra Austen, relaying that her dearest friend Eliza’s husband, Fulwar Fowle, now lies on his deathbed at Kintbury. Arriving unannounced, Cassandra is met with a cool reception at first but soon forms a bond with Fulwar’s daughter Isabella. In the days after Fulwar’s death, Cassandra finally finds an opportunity to search the house, and the object of her search is revealed: the letters Jane wrote to Eliza throughout their friendship. Cassandra is keen that her sister’s private correspondence should not fall into the wrong hands.