Yorkshire, 1864. The daughter of a wealthy Yorkshire landowner, Anna Thornton leads a privileged life. But she is not content. She longs to be accepted for the free-thinking, independent woman she is. When she meets dashing adventurer Matt Cowan, she thinks she has met her soul mate. However, he's not the man she thinks he is. After he sets sail for South America, Anna discovers she's pregnant. Heartbroken, she flees her family home, determined to keep her child's illegitimacy a secret. Just when she starts to settle into her new life, strong-minded Brenton O'Mara - who has turned his back on his father's wealth - seeks work as a labourer at Anna's new home....