The Florence Letter

One hidden letter.
Two women born decades apart.
Secrets uncovered.

In 2015, when art curator and Londoner, Claire’s life implodes, she goes to organise a below stairs exhibition at Gatley Hall and moves into Rose Cottage. Her neighbour, Jim is a ranger and encourages her to embrace the countryside and a slower pace of life. Claire finds a letter in a drawer in the housekeeper’s parlour and the sender, Margaret is looking for Tabitha who lived at Rose Cottage during World War II. Claire visits Margaret and uncovers a scandalous secret that takes her to Florence with Jim.

In 1940, shopgirl, Margaret is forced out of London by the Blitz and works as a lady’s maid for countess, Lady Violet at Gatley Hall. When Italian prisoner of war, Luca saves Margaret from being murdered by a German parachutist, she instantly falls in love with him. He describes his home city, Florence as a magical place and Margaret dreams of visiting when the war is over. But everything falls apart when Margaret has to compete with Lady Violet for Luca’s attention while she paints his portrait at the gamekeeper’s cottage.