Charlotte's life has fallen apart. Previously the daughter of a well off lawyer, her father is now in prison and her mother dead. She is resigned to a life teaching the children of the aristocracy. She finds herself working as a governess for an Earl, and while the children are lovely, the Earl not a gentleman and Charlotte feels threatened by him.

When Richard, the Earls brother shows an interest in her, Charlotte sees a way out for herself, and a possible source of release for her father. But she soon discovers that Richard has many of the traits of his brother.

Trapped, she feels bound to help her father by marrying a man she doesn't love and who is unfaithful to her.