In1798 orphaned Barney Bean now has a flourishing farm in the New SouthWales colony and everything he ever dreamed of ... except his childhood friendElsie.

Butwhen Elsie falls ill and Barney rushes to be by her side, he finally learns thedeadly secret she has been hiding.

Who is this strange and beautiful girl who will not speak? And could Franceever attack the isolated colony?

Written byaward-winning author Jackie French and superbly illustrated by Mark Wilson,this fourth book in The Secret Histories series explores extraordinary anduntold stories from Australia's past, including the female French botanistwho could only work disguised as a man, French and Englishspies, and wars between two empires that threatened even a far-off colony.