H E L E N   W A I N W R I G H T was born in the village of Westbury-on-Trym in the West Country of England, the daughter of a butcher. Her mother died when Helen was a girl and her father was persuaded by an ambitious grandmother to send Helen off to private school.

Helen’s father remarried and Helen was content to stay at her school as a student and then as a teacher. One day she receives a letter from her father’s solicitor informing her that her father has died.

Helen is devastated and deeply hurt that no one in the family told her about her father’s death. She travels to Bristol to pay her respects and show her family the woman she’s become.

J O H N    D A R L I N G T O N,
the Seventh Earl of Westhaven, is about to forfeit the estate that has been in his family since the sixteenth century. Death duties, a larcenous estate manager and successive years of drought threaten to ruin him.

When he reads that one of the wealthiest men in Bristol has died leaving two daughters of marriageable age, his family devises a plan to save Westhaven. John must offer for one of the daughters and soon. Her allowance will be used to pay his debts and insure Westhaven’s future.

G R A N D M O T H E R    W A I N W R I G H T is a woman of her times. Unable to have ambition of her own, she directs the ambition of her husband and only son. When her son’s first wife dies, Grandmother seizes upon the opportunity for him to marry a woman whose family owns butcher shops in the surrounding villages. The Wainwright empire of butcher shops grows, bringing the family luxury and wealth.

A R A B E L L A    W A I N W R I G H T, recently widowed, faces an uncertain future. She must find her two daughters suitable matches and manage the Wainwright shops. She is guided by her insecurities as a middle class lady and the vagaries of Edwardian society.

When the Earl comes to call, Arabella wishes to make a favorable impression. She doesn’t wish to offend the titled class. When the family guesses the Earl’s intention to marry a Wainwright heiress, Arabella is ready to do anything to assure the coveted match for one of her daughters.

Helen’s two half-sisters, F I O N A and C O N S T A N C E are sullen, spoiled girls. They turn to Helen for help in catching the Earl. The two girls learn about Helen’s world and come to love her as their sister. When the family travels to Westhaven by a new invention, the automobile, they rely on Helen to be their guardian and confidant.