Nancy and her friends, Bess and George travel to Charlottesville, Virginia, in search for a missing stained-glass window. They also visit Richmond, Virginia, and the church where Patrick Henry gave his "Give me liberty or give me death" speech. The girls stay with Nancy's cousin Susan. Nancy discovers someone is trying to keep her away from Charlottesville. The mansion they are staying at is said to be haunted by a mysterious ghost. Also Nancy's new neighbors' brother, Alonzo Rugby, is in Charlottesville and is a major suspect in this mystery.