Beautiful Fidelis McCauley instantly falls for handsome Lieutenant Daniel Herrick when he rescues her hat from blowing away during the triumphant celebrations marking the return of his ship. Fidelis is determined to escape her treadmill existence and her chance meeting with Daniel seems to open new doors for her. But loving Daniel is risky - his father, a marine colonel, will disown his son if he finds out about his secret affair with a servant girl. And will Daniel, who has grown accustomed to his privileged background, be willing give up everything for the one he loves? Meanwhile Fidelis has already promised her hand to a childhood friend Harry, drifting into the engagement to please his family whose house was a second home while she was growing up. But Harry is far away in India with the Royal Marines ...