London

The novel begins in London in the year 1860. Lizzie Rose and Parsefall live in poverty in an old boardinghouse. The owner of the boardinghouse, Mrs. Pinchbeck, is an alcoholic who does little to repair the home and employs a lazy housekeeper who also does little to improve the quality of the home. For this reason, and because Grisini disappears, Lizzie Rose finds herself taking on the responsibility of the cleanliness of the home. At the same time, Clara Wintermute lives in a luxurious home filled with wonderful treasures. However, the home is also littered with the reminders of her siblings’ deaths, such as their death masks and pictures of them in their coffins.

Strachan Ghyll

Strachan Ghyll is Cassandra’s home. Strachan Ghyll is a large estate outside of Windermere in northern England. The main house has been built around an ancient tower that Cassandra has kept standing...