As the lowest ranking parlor maid at Stonefleet Hall, Becky gets all the dirtiest jobs. But the one she hates the most is cleaning Miss AbigailтАЩs room. ThereтАЩs a strange, empty smell to the place, and a feeling that nothing right or Christian resides there in the mistressтАЩs absence. And then thereтАЩs the blood, the spot that comes back no matter often Becky scrubs it clean. Becky wishes she had somewhere else to go, but without means or a good recommendation from her household, there is nothing for her outside the only home sheтАЩs known for eighteen years. So when a sickening doll made of wax and feathers turns up, BeckyтАЩs dreams of freedom and green grass become even more distant. Until the staff members start to die.
A darning needle though the heart of the gruesome doll puts everyone at Stonefleet Hall at odds. The head parlor maid seems like someone else, the butler pretends nothingтАЩs amiss, and everyone thinks BeckyтАЩs losing her mind. But when the shambling old lord of the manor looks at her, why does he scream as though heтАЩs seen the hounds of hell?┬а