Portrait of a Lady — Diane A.S. Stuckart

Milan, province of Lombardy...1483

As court engineer to the Duke of Milan, Leonardo da Vinci turns his superior mind to a variety of pursuits -- from advances in painting to solving the occasional murder. While preparing the festivities for a masquerade, Leonardo and his apprentice Dino find themselves embroiled in a conspiracy...

Death has come once again to the court of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. To prevent any unwanted attention, the duke instructs his unofficial sleuth-in-residence, Leonardo da Vinci, to investigate the apparent suicides of two female servants. Da Vinci decides to put a "man" on the inside and has his favorite apprentice, Dino, dress as a lady and enter the service of the duke's ward, Contessa Caterina, who values her dog and her tarocchi cards more than the lives of her servants.

Of course, Dino has no problem with his assigned role, given that "he" is in reality Delfina, a young woman secretly masquerading as a boy in order to serve as da Vinci's apprentice.

While investigating the deaths, Delfina unexpectedly finds herself under the attentions of Gregorio, the handsome captain of the duke's guard who has unseemly connections to both of the deceased women and the Contessa herself. Delfina is soon torn between her loyalty to da Vinci and her growing feelings for Gregorio.

But if what the Contessa's tarocchi cards foretold is correct, Delfina might be destined to lose her heart...and perhaps her life.