In 1865, Eppie Watt is widowed, and left with a young child to support. She finds work as a fish packer and seller, but as the daughter and sister of schoolteachers it's not what she was born to, so she is overjoyed to obtain a post as housekeeper to wealthy widower Alexander Geddes. His daughter Lydia becomes convinced that Eppie has designs on Alexander, and rumours are soon flying, but Eppie is no gold-digger, and Alexander is attracted to Lydia's governess - Eppie's sister Marion. Meanwhile his son Duncan returns home with a stranger who has a mysterious past.