Melissande de Castellane and her half-brother and sister wait anxiously for Gideon Maitland, the new Marquess of Rochdale, to return to the estate he has inherited and where they have grown up. Fatigued from his experiences as a soldier and thrust into having to oversee a debt-ridden estate, the new marquess first announces he will sell the property. Melissande however is determined to protect her family’s legacy and tries to persuade him to take charge of his inheritance. As Gideon and Melissande become more intrigued with each other, other local courtships and the sudden arrival of a missing French relative of Melissande’s keep the local community busy.