Elizabeth, a beautiful low-born girl of seventeen marries the Earl of Castlehaven, Edward McHugh, in Ireland in 1790. He hides a terrible secret from Elizabeth and proceeds to rid himself of the love of her life, Colum O'Neal by imprisoning him, thus informing Elizabeth that Colum has left for a life in England, her family has gone to the Americas, and she has no one but him.
A defiant Elizabeth is sent to Edward's mother in London, where she discovers that his mother is ill and she has made arrangements for her nephew, Alexander, to take over her duties. Alexander is enthralled with Elizabeth and has no intentions of sending her back to Edward. Will Colum reach Elizabeth in time to save her from a desperate Edward and a deliberate Alexander?