A young woman born with a strange birthmark on her face leaves her sheltered childhood and becomes hairdresser and personal maid to a former courtesan who draws her into a world of desire and jealousy lurking behind the wealth and privilege of Perugia.

Born with a strange birthmark on her face, Flavia is alienated even from her family. She leaves her sheltered childhood and becomes an ornatrix, a hairdresser and personal maid to a former courtesan. Ghostanza draws her into a world of desire and jealousy lurking behind the wealth and privilege of Perugia. In a society where admiration is everything and perfection is the ultimate, elusive goal, Flavia soon finds beauty in her grasp in the form of the poisonous but stunning white lead cerussa. What lengths will she go to, to leave her marked face behind?