When Lory Stevenson went to the Hebridean island of Creagdubh for a particular purpose, she didn't want the laird, Grant Mackinnon, to find out what she was up to.

In fact, he soon discovered she was there in disguise, a government-employed Sociologist, hired to do a survey after investigating living standards on Grant's remote island, where every house belonged to him and only his large castle/guesthouse and the Schoolhouse had any electricity.

Her objective was to try to improve the habitants living conditions, or else, convince them to leave Creagdubh and set up their own homes on the mainland.

On finding out her objective, Grant promptly turned the tables on her, offering to be her guide on the island, with a view to showing her exactly the type of life the inhabitants enjoyed - and if they really wanted to leave !