In December 1861, England is in mourning after the death of Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert. For Anne Holt of Holybourne, his death marks the second tragedy to occur on her birthday.

Eleven years before, her father, James, died in an accident shortly after her birth. Anne grew up impoverished, as her mother, Catherine, struggled to support them as a laundress and with money sent to them by her father’s sister, Alice. Desperate, Catherine turns to Mr. O’Leary, a wealthy pawnbroker and a man of questionable character.  

In an effort to secure Anne’s future, Catherine arranges for her to stay with Alice at Lesington Hall. Through the love of Aunt Alice and cousin Eleanor, Anne thrives over the next several years while learning about her father and his side of the family. On a trip to France, she meets Dr. Anthony Hathaway, a man who once planned to marry Alice. As Anne plans to reunite him with her aunt, she also meets Hathaway’s son John, with whom she falls in love.  

However, when a man from her past returns, Anne faces new decisions.