Sophia, a pretty country girl, has heard tales about how others live up at the big house where her mother and late friend Anna Maria used to work as maids. Sophia dreams of becoming one of those privileged people so is thrilled to become betrothed to Darius, the local doctor's handsome farmer son.

The couple move into Stour View farmhouse and soon Sophia attends a poetry class in the village and all seems idyllic until tragedy strikes. Following this, Darius informs his wife that due to his new business venture with his cousin George they are to move to a large Gothic mansion on the coast.

After settling in, Sophia becomes acquainted with the son of a lord who in time is to help her fulfil her ambitions in more ways than she could ever have dreamed of but where will it all end?