Resolute, successful and elegant, Frances Draper moves through life without actually touching it. Her constant companion and business partner in a bookshop, Samuel Tanner, enjoys a 'hands-off' relationship that suits them both--for their own individual reasons.
Samuel loves Frances and so do his parents. They would like to see their only son marry the woman they approve of and provide them with the grandchildren they crave--before it's too late.
Frances moves to a new apartment that is in the perfect location; it overlooks a beautiful park that is located near her place of work. Perfect as it is, there is a feeling of uneasiness on Frances's part that she cannot explain.
Melbourne's Hamer Hall is the only place where Frances lets down her emotional barriers. She is totally absorbed by the beauty of classical music but it releases tears that she is aware of-- but not of their cause--and memories too painful to face.
Adam Harcourt notices her from the stage as he plays the violin. He is drawn to the only woman he has ever seen react so emotionally to the music he loves. He contrives to meet Frances, but is puzzled by her relationship with Samuel.
Adam perceives that Frances is a troubled woman who has set up formidable barriers around her psyche. But his need to share his music with someone who understands, and his growing attraction to Frances, make him determined to break down her barriers. Her confusion, her vulnerability, and what he recognizes as unresolved psychological issues, are a challenge to his sensitivity and masculinity.
Nightmares begin to overtake Frances's subconscious and powerful, haunting images invade her sleep and daily life. Pressures from Adam's persistent attention and the sexual feelings he arouses in her, the uneasiness she feels about the park, and Samuel's jealousy, are all disturbing elements that bring Frances to the verge of collapse. She subsequently embarks on a journey of discovery with Adam who forces her to face the secret she has kept locked away from the world--and herself.
