Seventeen–year–old Domine thought she was alone in the world when her guardian and only relative, Great–Uncle Henry Farriday, died; nevertheless she was a little daunted when she learned that Great–Uncle Henry had consigned her to the care of the unknown James Mannering until she was eighteen. She was no less daunted when she actually met James and went to stay with him and his mother in their home in Yorkshire. For James was only thirty–seven and a very attractive man, with what seemed like a harem of equally attractive momen vying for his attention – and it was not long before Domine found herself, very much against her will, joining their number. But in the face of all that competition, how could she imagine that he would ever see her as anything but a child?