Helen Siddall is an orphan girl who possesses beauty, intellect and youth. She is unaware that her maternal family is one of the wealthiest in the North of England. Brought up in her paternal aunt's working class home, she struggles against the jealousy of her young cousin Harry whilst becoming attracted to her older cousin, Thomas. Harry endeavours to destroy both her life and her relationship with Thomas. Secrets from her family history also conspire to produce twists and turns in the story which spans three decades between the two World Wars involving conflict, love and intrigue.