When Lord Edward Stonham kills his opponent in a duel, he is forced to flee and take on a false identity. As country gentleman Edward Trevelyan, he recruits Penelope Bradshaw, the eldest daughter of a well-born widow fallen on hard times, to be his housekeeper. While they are initially secretive about their personal circumstances, they soon become confidantes. But Edward is not in a position to offer for Penny's hand in marriage, so they can never...