Orphaned at a young age, Rachel is left penniless and alone in the streets of turn-of-the-century Newcastle. In the depths of despair she is delighted to learn that her eccentric Uncle Joshua has left her his house in Sunderland. But it comes with a strict proviso: she must marry her sworn enemy Martin. Otherwise, her dangerous cousin Saul Gorman will inherit the lot. And Saul will stop at nothing to claim inheritance...