It is 1838. Young, unworldly Molly Dade is sent by her father as companion to an invalid lady, the mistress of Highcragg House. Her new home is a wild and dramatic region of high, rocky moorland and numerous lead mines. Moses Dade is himself a prosperous mine-owner and his innocent daughter adores him. But closer acquaintance with her new mistress’s husband and owner of the local mines, Jared Digby, leads to growing awareness of her imminent danger. Through sorrow, tragedy and personal betrayal Molly ultimately finds deep love and acceptance among the simple people of the hills whose harsh lives she will henceforth joyfully share as mistress of Highcragg House.
