Summary

The novel begins with 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain writing in her journal while sitting on the drain board of the kitchen sink because that is where the light is coming in through the window of the castle where she lives with her family. Cassandra writes shorthand in a cheap book because she can't afford more paper. The roof leaks because of the heavy rain and she notes that the inside is cozy due to candlelight. Cassandra's 19-year-old sister, Rose, irons an old dress. The Mortmain family lives in a crumbling house which is an addition to a castle built in the 1600s. Belmotte Tower, the remains of yet another castle stands on a nearby mound. Rose writes daily in her journal to improve her skills and to follow in the footsteps of her father, Mr. James Mortmain...