Beth Teviot, after the loss of both her father and her friend, old Jan Dynard, arrives at the crossroads of decision. A shy, gentle girl, in the past few years she has grown more sure of herself, within the sphere of her sheltered existence. Now that she is alone, Martin, her elder brother, insists that Beth come to live with him and hls wife, Jill. But Beth has her pride and she is determined to prove herself capable of standing on her own feet.
Thanks to old Mrs Birch, Beth is appointed secretary by Charlotte Lydian, the owner of Oakmere, a historic mansion home in Devon. Charlotte also wants Beth to help her nephew Randal Melbrais, a historical biographer, with the research work for a history of Oakmere. But Randal, who is abroad, values his freedom and does not hold the Lydian inheritance as dear as his aunt would wish.