A powerful love story set in 19th century Whitby Sarah Shaw arrives in the fishing port of Whitby alone and almost destitute, fleeing her abusive husband. In desperate need of accommodation and employment, she takes a post as governess in the household of John McMaster, an eminent barrister but a hard and embittered man, whose wife died giving birth to their only son. Little by little, Sarah forms a bond with her young charge, Robin, an invalid who has spent most of his short childhood indoors, in awe of his distant father. She makes friends with a local family, and dares to hope that her new life may bring happiness ? even love. But Sarah is to discover, tragically, that it is not so easy to put the past behind her?