Up At The Villa

Set in the late 1930s, this tale opens in Tuscany, where Mary Panton finds herself widowed and alone, staying in a grand villa with sweeping views. She’s elegant and gentle, but feels a deep emptiness after losing her husband. One evening, she meets Sir Edgar Swift, a man of wealth and charm who clearly admires her. He offers a way out of loneliness, but with it comes society’s expectations and pressure to remarry.

Before she can decide, Mary’s past crashes into her present when the young, troubled Gaetano arrives at her villa in a desperate state. He confesses a terrible secret and asks for help. Mary must choose between protecting him and confronting the slander that might spiral into ruin. The tension grows as Lady Caroline Sneyd, a trusted friend, worries for Mary’s reputation and safety.