For Sophie Ventnor, Julyan's Court, with its treasured gardens, was a totally absorbing and satisfying Eden. She asked nothing more of life than to be able to continue inhabiting it, helping her father with his botanical research, illustrating his books for him, and tending the rare plants which they nurtured together. And there was also Robin, a dear childhood friend, to whom one day she would be married.

But Edens are not permanent habitations, and when the Romsey family arrived in the neighbourhood Sophie knew fear, like a sparrow seeing hawks flying over its territory. Frank Romsey was the dynamically successful tycoon who had swallowed up her Robin in his business empire. Frank Romsey's son Guy and daughter Thelma shared their father's good looks, his personality and drive. They were born winners in a competitive world, and as events caused Sophie's more gentle universe to crumble about her, she realised just how fragile her happiness had been.

In the struggle to find her feet again, she was grateful for Guy Romsey's coolly practical help. At the dame time she was wary of his dominating personality, determined not to get further involved with any member of the family which had destroyed so much that she had cherished. But Sophie was to find that some resolutions are easier to make than to maintain.