Lily Elliott is not so much spoilt as loved - a little girl for whom nothing is too good, petted and indulged by her adored Ma and Pa, dreaming of the day when she will be the captain of Pa's ship, the Lily-Jane of Liverpool. Until the day when the news comes that Richard Elliott is dead. As her mother sinks into a dream-world and the money which had always seemed sufficient turns out to have been mostly debts, Lily watches, bewildered, as her safe, happy world comes apart. Then two rescuers appear. One is the most unlikely saviour: Liam O'Connor, a poor seaman who selflessly befriends the unhappy little girl. The other is Joshua Crowther, the wealthy owner of Oakwood Place - but Joshua Crowther is not what he seems. By coming to Oakwood Place, Lily and her mother have placed themselves in terrible danger...