When Lilly Donnelly arrives at the Cutlers' famed Butterfly Mansion in 1899, the massive house and unfamiliar duties threaten to overwhelm her. Victorian Austin is lavish, highly political, and intimidating, but with the help of the other servants, Lilly resolves to prove herself to her new employers. Then, while serving at an elegant dinner party, Lilly recognizes one distinguished guest as Andrew, the love of her life, who abandoned her without a word back home. He seems to have assumed a new identity and refuses to acknowledge her, leaving her confused and reeling. Before Lilly can absorb this unwelcome news, she's attacked. Could it be the sinister Servant Girl Killer who has been terrorizing Austin? Or is it someone after something more personal—someone from her past? Does she dare trust Andrew to help or is he part of the danger threatening to draw Lilly into its vortex?

It's the year 1907 and four friends embark on a life-changing journey across the Atlantic as mail-order brides. When they leave The Baltic, the women promise to stay in touch as they spread out to the four corners of the U.S. Benjamin White’s wife died in a flood and left him with twin daughters. Not only has he lost his wife, but he feels responsible for the disaster since he designed the failed dam. He wants to help rebuild and assuage his guilt, but his one-year-old daughters need care. Then Ben hears about a ship carrying mail-order brides to the New World and requests one be sent to him. His letter is picked, and Elli Korpela is designated as his new bride. Elli is determined to meet this new challenge head on. She has nothing left in Finland, and she’s sure she can be the perfect wife to Ben and mother to the twin girls. She marries Benjamin and the two find they are immediately attracted to one another. When someone sets fire to their house, Elli manages to put out the flames but realizes she hasn’t found the safe haven she expected. Is the arsonist stalker one of her dead father’s political opponents or someone closer to home? It will take all the trust she and Ben can muster to uncover and defeat their joint enemy.