1914, England. Lady Beaufort already has three boys and she certainlydoesn't want another child. But her husband Aubrey has always dreamed of adaughter to fill the gap his sister left when she died tragically young. Incontrast Harold and Copper Varney are expecting their first child and areover the moon about it. Their children Victoria and Leila meet when LadyBeaufort sends Victoria to the village school out of spite, jealous of hercaptivating daughter. Victoria's parents adore their only child Leila,though they are surprised she does not excel academically as her father did.Though Harold is an impoverished teacher, whose family have a meagreexistence, he was a talented Oxford scholar. Despite the differences intheir backgrounds, the two girls share a special friendship as well as abirthday; but before long both families start to fear something is wrong....