To the horror of young gravedigger, Ned, body-snatchers have been visiting his churchyard in the dead of night. Until now, he'd been daydreaming about another visitor - daughter of the manor, Obedience Wellrest._x000D_ But 16-year-old Obedience has troubles of her own: her loving but overbearing father, and his wish to see her married to a rich man of science, Phineas Mordaunt. _x000D_ But when Mordaunt starts to poke his nose into her family history - in particular, the ruinous research of late Uncle Herbert - Obedience enters into a dangerous game of Death, and Ned might be the only person who can save her...