Tempted by an offer of marriage, which would immediately elevate his wealth and status, Oswald Blackwood, a penniless Oxfordian peddler, turned his back on love to take advantage of Isabelle Braithwaite's infatuation for him. Severing his relationship with the beautiful, Agatha Willow in pursuit of his dream, he leaves her with more than just a broken heart.

Under the strict guardianship of Maude Carter, a local school governess, Agatha finds it impossible to comply with her ruthless instructions and makes a solemn vow that she will never abandon her unborn child. Her decision changes the course of her life and marks the beginning of a lonely struggle.

More than a decade later, in eighteen-seventy-five, when Charlotte Willow is told of the news that her father is still alive, she sets out in search of him, soon to discover his true nature. In Oswald’s continued obsession to attain prosperity, Charlotte is forced to accompany him on his illegal business pursuits which have calamitous repercussions and cause her life to take a dramatic turn for the worse.

Although she yearns to be part of her father's family, Charlotte is forbidden to reveal her existence to her half-brothers, and the rest of Oswald’s family. Charlotte’s life takes on many twists and turns which frequently find her in the most challenging of situations.

After falling for a man who is inaccessible to her, Charlotte brushes aside love and romance to focus on becoming a teacher, following in her mother’s footsteps. Resilient to the many obstacles that hinder her life, Charlotte is determined to make her mother’s plight worthwhile and honour the sacrifices she made in her fortitude to give her daughter a safe and loving start in life.

Steadfastly containing her sorrow within her forgiving and optimistic heart, Charlotte has inherited her mother's fighting spirit and her determination to prove herself is just one of her admirable qualities. .