For Victoria, orphaned at six, her grandmother Evanthi's beautiful home in Corfu - known locally as The Venetian House - has always meant safety, freedom and a near-magical kind of contentment. Brought up by her cousin Guy's parents in England, she - together with Guy and his childhood friend Richard - always longed for the idyllic summer holidays where they forged a friendship that would last a lifetime. Victoria was mesmerized by brilliant, selfish, enigmatic Guy, but it was safe, affectionate, reliable Richard whom she married.

Now, twenty years later, Richard is dead. Victoria discovers her marriage was a sham and, desperate to escape, she takes her son Jake out to The Venetian House, feeling that only in these beloved surroundings can she face her demons.

Then photographer Patrick Hammond arrives. He brings with him his own troubles - his marriage to elegant, self-centred, neurotic Rachel is in crisis -yet a friendship, and possibly something more, starts to develop between Patrick and Victoria. But for Evanthi there is something strangely familiar about Patrick and, soon she is forced to face her own troubled past ...