Summary
The story begins when Margaret Lea is invited to the home of Vida Winter to record her biography before the novelist dies. Lea is surprised by the offer and decides to read Winter's Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation, in which there are actually only twelve tales. Lea decides to meet with Winter. During their meeting, Lea is convinced to change her mind and accept the offer when Winter promises her a ghost story that involves twin girls. Winter provides her with three truths that can be verified and in turn Lea agrees to hear her story.
Vida Winter's story is an adventure into her own past, full of dark family secrets which she has kept hidden all her life. She speaks of her childhood and the estate she grew up on, which long ago was burned and abandoned. She reveals that she was formerly known as Adeline March, and tells the tale of the twins, Adeline and Emmeline. …
