Day after day, Phoebe Deane is subjected to living as a servant in her brother's home. She's treated hatefully by her sister-in-law, and forced to endure matchmaking schemes influenced by greed. Marriage to an ill-tempered man with a bunch of misbehaving children seems to be what's in store for Phoebe. Just as she begins to lose hope for a happy future, a chance encounter changes the direction of her life. Could it be that she might find someone who truly cares for her;