The Grenville family stunned local society. Not only does Charlotte, the daughter of Mr. Grenville, almost push her stepmother around and fall in love with the main handsome man of the area, Richard, but she also finds herself engaged. Her fiance looks like a man from a different circle, but does not stir up gossip for long: a short time after his arrival, the strange young man is found dead. Suspicion naturally falls on Richard, who had reasons not to like his rival. The only one who doesn’t believe in his guilt is Emily, an observant young lady who has already helped her friends in the most confusing situations more than once.