January 1790. Isabella Rae travels south of Edinburgh to Cauldhame manse to oversee domestic matters after the death of the manse's master, Gideon Kerr. Housekeeper Jean Tait has struggled with upkeep since Gideon's death, but she greets Isabella with hostility.

Spring is on the horizon, but the ice-bound glen in which Isabella finds herself remains in coldness and shadow, and it is not long before she realises that all is not well at the manse. Isabella senses a sinister force acting unseen: candles are extinguished without warning and ice blooms on surfaces, revealing strange words.
But another, simultaneous haunting seems to be occurring: candles glowing, the air fragrant with apple blossom and grass drifting in the wake of terror.

Two spirits battle for the soul of the manse. But which will triumph?