What dark secret shrouded her homecoming?

After twelve years within the confines of a Belgian convent, Vere Rowland
returns to England--to the magnificent Halbertson estate where her mother
is housekeeper. On the return trip Vere meets darkly handsome Laurence
Braeknell, it was as pleasant as unexpected. It transpired that Laurence
lived within a short distance of the Great Gatehouse, it was a wonderful and
strange coincidence.

But Vere's hopes of future meetings are clouded by her mother's concern
and the distress of the Halbertson household. Why should her love for Laurence
stir up such a whirlwind of trouble? And what is the secret of the deep mystery
buried in the Halbertson history--a history of which no one dares speak...? It led
to some troublesome questions. Before the answers to these questions were
known, there was much to be borne and much to be suffered - but then, life is
never easy when you're in love